'Hearts of Gold' eastern redbud — Cercis canadensis
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Description
'Hearts of Gold' is a cultivar of the native redbud tree in the bean family (Fabaceae). It will grow 20-25 feet tall and 25-35 feet wide. This tree was first found growing in a garden in Greensboro, NC in 2002. It was then asexually reproduced by a nursery in TN and eventually marketed as 'Hearts of Gold' in 2007 under U.S. Plant Patent PP17,740.
The genus name Cercis comes from the Greek word kerkis, which means weaver's shuttle, referring to the fact that the seed pod resembles the size and shape of a weaver's shuttle used to move thread back and forth on a loom.
This tree produces gold-colored heart-shaped leaves in spring. In full sun the leaves maintain their color into summer and then change to chartreuse. In part shade, the leaves will be a greener chartreuse. In early spring the pinkish purple pea-shaped flowers appear before leaf-out along the stems. This cultivar will bloom on 1-year-old stems rather than 2 year old as most of the other cultivars do.
'Hearts of Gold' needs full sun to partial shade in moderately fertile well-drained moist soils. It is pH adaptable and deer resistant but doesn't tolerate wet soils. Keep the soil evenly moist the first year and water during periods of drought thereafter. Be sure to choose your site carefully as redbuds do not transplant well due to a deep tap root.
Serving as a host plant for Henry's elfin butterfly (Callophrys henrici), this tree can be planted as a specimen in a pollinator garden. It can also be planted as an understory tree in a wooded landscape, in small groups, or mass planted for a dramatic springtime effect. It may also be planted as a street or lawn tree but is very sensitive to herbicides and chemicals sprayed on lawns.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect pests include leafhoppers, caterpillars, borers, Japanese beetles, treehoppers, scale, and webworms. Possible diseases include canker, dieback, leaf spots, verticillium wilt, blights, and mildew. It can be a short-lived tree, typically living less than 75 years.
