... and Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'

Like the Stewartia, 'Forest Pansy' Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy') has breath-taking fall color that goes through a lot of changes before the big heart-shaped leaves finally drop. And like the Stewartia, we were lucky to be able to find another such special tree locally in 2000. Stonewall Nursery — where we recently bought a weeping Purple Fountain Beech — had been holding 'Forest Pansy' for a landscape designer who proved to be a no-show. So we were able to buy the tree at the end of July for $59.00 (47 Euros at today's rates). It was a good size and, we thought, a good deal.

 

Alas, the next spring there was such serious die-back that we called Peter at the nursery to express our concern. Peter said not to panic and not to do anything until the Fourth of July. By that date, most of the tree had leafed out and we did some judicious pruning to deal with what turned out to actually be dead wood. The same thing happened the following year and we again applied the Fourth of July rule. Since then, the tree has been so healthy, hearty and such a fast gower that we've had to prune it annually to keep it in bounds.
 

 

And like the Stewartia, our 'Forest Pansy' Redbud has never flowered. So the lack of those tell-tale early pink flowers has never been any kind of a sign — one way or the other — for us. 'Forest Pansy' came through the record-breaking winter of 2008/09 with flying colors. Thus we didn't think anything of it when it got later and later this spring and still not sign of leaves. 

Then suddenly, there they were — sprouting out on the three major trunks. But this time it doesn't look like the Fourth of July rule is going to hold. The leaves are all low on the branches and it seems clear that major pruning — if not actutal hacking — may have to occur. We haven't concluded if the tree should stay and be given another chance or if its useful life is over. 

We've loved and admired 'Forest Pansy' for ten years which is pretty good for a $60 investment. Probably the biggest question in our minds at this point is what would we plant there in its stead. No obvious answer comes to mind so we're just quietly waiting for the Fourth to arrive and seal 'Pansy's' fate.

Comments

[Altoon]

I got to the end of this post and uttered out loud "oh dear"; I hadn't expected it after the happy outcome with the blooming Stewartia. A delicate dwarf crabapple instead? that should be very hardy.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

It doesn't look very healthy from here. Our Forest Pansy was ripped in two during a vicious wind storm. It is trying to survive. I wanted to take it out but my DB wants to let it go until it gives up. So we have. It is quite the trooper.

[Barbara H.]

OK, this is too sad and too soon. I know it has struggled, but this last winter was so difficult everywhere. I think the Redbud needs one more year. Go out in a loving, peaceful state of mind, put your hands on it, tell it out loud you love it, and send love straight from your heart through your hands to it for as long as it feels needed, or until you need to stop. That's my 2 cents.

[Deborah at Kilbourne Grove]

My cercis (not Forest Pansy) did the same thing this year, although it has only been planted for 4 years. I cannot believe how fast it is regrowing, I will wait until after July 4th to do any serious pruning on it. I wonder what was going on this year?

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Barbara — I think the redbud has already recognized our concern because it does seem to be rousing itself, at least on the live branches.

Deborah — The speed of the new growth is amazing. Suddenly there seem to be little branches shooting up everywhere. The pruning will leave some big stumps but if the tree survives they will eventually be hidden.

[Barbara H.]

Thanks for the encouraging update. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for it - and sending healing thoughts its way!