Fourth of July: Redbud report

The first few years after we planted this redbud — Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' — we had serious dieback each spring. Peter Moersch of Stonewall Nursery, where we bought the tree, said not to panic and not to do anything until the Fourth of July. 

Over the years we've accepted that the tree is slow to leaf out, but it's been very healthy and ultimately a fast grower otherwise. 'Forest Pansy' came through the record-breaking winter of 2008/09 with flying colors, so it didn't initially alarm us this spring when weeks went by without a sign of life. 

 

Eventually, however, we thought the tree was a goner and even the Fourth of July rule would not hold. There was major dieback on the entire top of the tree, more than we'd experienced in years. But all three main branches are sending out so much new growth that we just bit the bullet and cut the tree back above the live growth. 

The stumps will be hidden in another week or two and it looks like the Fourth rule still holds. Hope your Fourth of July report is equally positive!

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

Our Forest Pansy is a mess. It split a couple of years ago. Then recovered from that and then it bent in half, then recovered. It is an amazing tree. I keep wanting to take it out and replace it but my DB says leave it alone. So I am but it certainly is amazing. It is so hot here that it starts losing its color this time of year. Plus it usually drys out this time of year, this year being no exception. Even our grass is going dormant. It is difficult to get rid of a tree when it evidently wants to live.

[Altoon]

This is great news. The leaves that did emerge are certainly robust, and a beautiful color. I hope the recovery continues and that next spring you see some blossoms.
Happy 4th!

[Erin]

Patience is virtue with plants, I guess. What's there looks great, though.

[Barbara H.]

Thanks so much for the update! I'm very happy and relieved and thrilled at how well it's doing.

[Jean]

Oh dear, I didn't know that Forest Pansy had such issues. I planted one just last fall. Of course, it won't have to deal with the same kind of weather but it did sail through the extremely cold winter we had (for down here).

Guess I'll see you and Mark soon in Buffalo. Looking forward to it!