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Products > Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
 
Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' - Purple-leaved Eastern Redbud

Note: This plant is no longer in stock. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.  
Image of Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
[2nd Image]
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Tree
Family: Caesalpiniaceae (~Fabales)
Origin: Northeast (U.S.) (North America)
Red/Purple Foliage: Yes
Flower Color: Rose Pink
Bloomtime: Spring
Height: 12-20 feet
Width: 15-25 feet
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: <15° F
Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' (Purple-leaved Eastern Redbud) - A deciduous tree that grows 15 to 20 feet tall by with an equal spread. From late winter to early spring, the splendid, rose-pink blossoms cover the bare branches for a beautiful floral display. Graceful, heart-shaped leaves are 4-8 inches long and 2-4 inches wide, arranged in an alternate pattern along the branches. New growth emerges deep purple and matures to a bronze-green - the showy fall color is yellow. The bark is thin and easily damaged from mechanical impact such as mowers and trimmers. It typically has an irregular growth habit when young but forms a graceful, flat-topped, vase shape as it gets older. The tree usually branches low on the trunk, and if left intact forms a graceful multitrunked specimen. Requires selective pruning at an early age to develop a strong branch structure. Plant in full sun to light shade, best growth occurs in a light, rich, moist soil. This plant adapts fairly well to a variety of soils, including sandy, clay, alkaline or acidic, occasionally wet but most importantly well drained. Trees look better when they receive some irrigation in summer. Cold hardy to about <15 degrees F. This cultivar was discovered in 1947 as a chance seedling at the former Forest Nursery in McMinnville, Tennessee. It is variously reported as a discovery made by the nursery's owner Hiram B. Stubblefield or by its foreman, Charlie Keel. The name Cercis is from the Greek word 'kerkis' which is a weaver's shuttle in reference to the shape of the fruit. The species Cercis canadensis is a plant that is native to much of eastern North America from southern Ontario south to Florida and west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma. We grew this plant from 1988 until 2017 have replaced this plant at our nursery with the variety Cercis 'Merlot' because it requires less irrigation and has better color late season. 

Information displayed on this page about Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.

 
San Marcos Growers closed for regular business at the end of 2025 as the property is being developed for affordable housing.
While our gates remain closed, we will open them by appointment so we can liquidate remaining plants, supplies and equipment. The plants remaining in the field are listed on our Live Inventory Page.
 
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