Alley Cat Redbud
Cercis canadensis 'Alley Cat'
Height: 30 feet
Spread: 35 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4
Other Names: Eastern Redbud, Judas Tree, Love Tree
Description:
A spectacular variety that is showy all season: magenta flowers held tightly on bare branches in early spring; deep green leaves splashed with white and gray-green in summer; yellow fall color; a great small ornamental tree for specimen use
Ornamental Features
Alley Cat Redbud has hot pink pea-like flowers along the branches in mid spring before the leaves. It has attractive white-variegated dark green foliage with hints of grayish green which emerges chartreuse in spring. The heart-shaped leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding yellow in the fall.
Landscape Attributes
Alley Cat Redbud is a deciduous tree with a shapely oval form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
- Disease
Alley Cat Redbud is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
Planting & Growing
Alley Cat Redbud will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 35 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.
This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.
