Cercis canadensis Melon Beauty - Eastern Redbud

The Cercis canadensis 'Melon Beauty' is a recent variety with beautiful heart-shaped foliage in a bright golden yellow, originating from young bronze shoots. Its purple-pink flowering occurs early in spring, directly on the branches, just before the leaves appear. A spectacular small bush!

The Canadian Redbud 'Melon Beauty' is an American cousin of the Mediterranean Judas trees. The species, Cercis canadensis, originates from the eastern and central United States. The growth of this small tree is quite slow and its adult size will not exceed 4.50 m in height and width. It has a rounded, spreading habit, as wide as it is tall. The flowers appear before the leaves, in March-April, directly on the branches, even those that are only one year old. They are pea-shaped, lavender-pink to violet, in a very fresh shade. They are followed by flattened pod-shaped fruits.

The beautiful foliage of the 'Melon Beauty' variety emerges bronze on the young shoots, and quickly turns to a golden yellow then chartreuse green in summer, with shaded leaves being more distinctly green. They are heart-shaped, rounded, quite thick and smooth, about 10 cm (3.9 in) long and wide. The foliage takes on a brilliant buttery yellow colour in autumn. The branches of older specimens branch out towards the ground. Its bark is dark in colour. It will often naturally form several small trunks.

It forms an attractive bush for a long period. It takes up little space: it is an ideal candidate for adding some height to a small garden. It appreciates a warm location, although sheltered from the scorching sun to avoid damaging its foliage and fairly deep soil, regardless of its nature, even if it is limestone. It is quite hardy and can be planted in all areas. It does not require any specific pruning: in short, it is a very easy plant that can thrive in any garden!

The Canadian Redbud or Cercis canadensis 'Melon Beauty' can be planted individually to provide a year-round presence, especially in a predominantly mineral space. It is also easy to imagine it standing out against a wall or evergreen foliage, accompanied by a 'Black Lace' Elderberry for colour and shape contrast with its light and finely cut foliage, with a few hellebores in their shade for winter! Or, with a beautiful purple smoke bush with its summer flowering in airy clusters...