Cercis canadensis Carolina Sweetheart - Eastern Redbud

Cercis canadensis' 'Carolina Sweetheart' is undoubtedly the most colourful form of the Canadian Redbud currently observed. This variety selected in the United States is distinguished by its unique foliage, ranging from pink-red during bud burst to a stunning variegation with shades of green, white-cream, pale yellow, and violet-pink, making this small tree with a slightly weeping habit a truly fantastic plant creature. The spectacle of its metamorphosis begins very early in spring when numerous bright pink pea-like flowers bloom directly on its bare bark. Towards the end of the season, its beautiful heart-shaped leaves take on shades of gold and copper. With rather slow growth and moderate development, this variety is suitable for small gardens. It can also be grown in containers on the terrace for several years.

The Cercis canadensis is a deciduous tree native to the eastern and central United States, belonging to the large family of Legumes, now renamed Fabaceae or Papilionaceae. Very frost-resistant, it is also a water-efficient plant that tolerates limestone but not excessively clay and compacted, poorly drained soils. This Cercis can reach 12m (39 ft 5 in) in height in its natural habitat, but rarely exceeds 4 to 7m (13 ft 1 in to 23 ft) in cultivation. It slowly forms a more or less twisted tree, branching near the ground, often wider than tall. The Canadian Redbud has given rise to numerous varieties with varied habits, flowering colours, and foliage, including 'Carolina Sweetheart', born in the state of South Carolina in the USA, introduced to the American market in 2016 and awarded at the 2019 Plantarium (Netherlands).

The cultivar 'Carolina Sweetheart' shows a rather slow growth and its size in 10 years will not exceed 3.50m (11 ft 6 in) in height by 2.50m (8 ft 2 in) in width, depending on the growing conditions. Ultimately, it should not exceed 6.50m (21 ft 4 in) in height according to American data, but probably slightly less in our European gardens. It is a small tree with a slightly weeping bushy habit, with branches gracefully arching towards the ground. It forms quite a dense mass, almost as wide as it is tall. The flowers appear before the leaves, in April, directly on the branches, even on the trunk and even those that are only one year old. They are pea-like flowers, vivid pink to purplish in colour, in a shade that is both vibrant and very fresh. The foliage emerges bright pink-red and translucent, then unfolds as its wonderful variegation becomes visible. In summer, green dominates, then autumn comes with the appearance of yellow, orange, or red tones depending on the year and soil conditions. The leaves are heart-shaped, 6-7cm (2.4-2.8 in) long, quite thick, glossy on top and downy underneath. With 'Carolina Sweetheart', it often happens that the young leaves do not show the characteristic variegation, and one or two years of cultivation are necessary to be able to admire it. The older branches and trunk have a fissured grey-black bark. Older specimens often have a twisted trunk and a 'parasol' branching, which gives them a very Japanese-like silhouette.

This 'Carolina Sweetheart' Cercis, with its graceful habit and magical colours, is an exceptional small tree that deserves to be highlighted: it is an ideal candidate to bring a unique touch to a small garden or the centre of a large flowerbed. It only requires a fairly deep soil, regardless of its nature, even very chalky and fairly dry in summer. It is very hardy and can be planted in all areas. It does not require any special pruning: in short, it is a very accommodating plant that can thrive in all gardens! It can be planted as a standalone specimen for year-round presence, but also in a shrub border, playing with contrasts of shapes and colours. Consider, for example, the 'Plumosa aurea' Elderberry, the dwarf winged Euonymus alatus Compactus, the wonderful Grace Cotinus with its summer flowering in airy clusters and its sumptuous autumn foliage. At the base of these shrubs, plant some daffodils or Naples cyclamens, a few clumps of Darley Heath, and Hellebores for the winter!