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You will love the Ruby Falls Redbud tree if you want a tree with green to deep purple foliage with heart-shaped leaves. It is a unique outdoor tree that stands out in the garden, and it has pretty lavender blooms with red stems welcoming spring.
Plant Name: Cercis canadensis Ruby Falls
Other Name: Ruby Falls Redbud or Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud
Plant Type: Deciduous Trees
Native Areas: Eastern US
Light Requirement: Partial Shade
Watering: Average
Fertilizer: General Purpose Fertilizer
Toxicity: Non-toxic
Temperature: Cold, hardy
Propagation: Soft and hardwood cuttings
Growth: Up to 20 feet tall
Soil Type: Well-Drained Soil
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
More About Ruby Falls Redbud Tree
The Cercis canadensis Ruby Falls or Ruby Falls Redbud is a dwarf cascading beauty that shouts purple power. The tree fits into small gardens making a considerable impact on passers-by. You see green to deep purple foliage from spring to fall.
In early spring, you see lavender flower buds on red stems, and in winter months, the weeping branches look fabulous. The tree can reach up to ten feet tall and six feet wide. You can grow it in a container if you do not have garden space.
Another huge benefit of having the Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud is that it is an attractive tree with its lovely weeping habit. It will also attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. While Ruby Falls has an extensive root system, it tolerates different potting mediums and is deer-resistant.
Ruby Falls Redbud Trees Care Guide
The Ruby Falls Redbud tree grows in a contorted shape that looks appealing.
Still, you can grow it like the Eastern Redbud to grow straight using stakes and ties around the trunk while the tree is dormant in late fall or winter.
You can expect this small-stature tree to grow a bit taller. But what are the growing needs for this deciduous tree? Let’s find out!
Suitable Ground For Cercis Canadensis Ruby Falls
The fantastic thing about the Redbud tree is that you can grow them in clay soil, but they still need good drainage.
Thus it helps to make a potting medium using clay, chalk, loam, and sand to create well-drained soil. The potting medium will make up for the right soil pH of acid, alkaline, and neutral levels.
Once planted, you can apply compost for added nutrients to the mix.
The Best Light and Exposure For Ruby Falls Redbud Tree
Compared to other Redbuds, Ruby Falls prefers partial to full sun to thrive. We recommend a spot with partial shade in the afternoon with full sun in the morning.
Watering Cercis Canadensis Ruby Falls
One part that is a bit complicated when caring for Ruby Falls Redbud trees is watering. The reason is that the tree has no simple watering schedule. Unfortunately, neither does it have regular watering needs.
While it prefers moist soil to enhance fruit production that, in turn, attracts butterflies, birds, and bees, too much water results in plant problems, the crucial thing is soil with good drainage to retain the correct moisture all the time.
So, use the thumb test to determine if your Ruby Falls Redbud tree needs watering.
Temperature and Humidity
As the Redbud trees are deciduous, you will find the leaves falling off when autumn arrives. Still, the foliage returns in early spring, followed by the flowers. The Ruby Falls Redbud tree can handle cold temperatures, but we recommend adding mulch around the base to warm the root system.
Fertilizing Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud Tree
The Weeping Redbud responds well to a general-purpose fertilizer in early spring before the blossoms open. We recommend following the label instructions for feeding your trees. You only need to feed your tree once in the growing season.
Pruning Cercis Canadensis Ruby Falls Trees
To maintain an elegant shape and provide air circulation pruning your trees must be done carefully. The best time for pruning your Weeping Redbud is to remove dead branches in the fall.
The branches sit low on the trunk, and the flowers can also form on the trunk, and pruning these branches helps. Nonetheless, the leaves can also overpower your tree when it comes to pruning and plant care.
Thus, you can remove the excess branches to give your tree a balanced look. We recommend avoiding having V-shaped branches in your tree, leading to breakage as your tree matures. So, give your Ruby Falls Redbud tree a prune to encourage new growth.
Propagating Ruby Falls Redbud Tree
A great way to propagate the Weeping Redbud is from seeds. Or you can use softwood cuttings taken from young trees. So, if you decide to use cuttings, we recommend taking a few, as the failure rate for rooting is high.
Wait until spring or early summer during the growing season to take cuttings. In summer, ensure that the flowers have faded before taking cuttings.
Prepare a rooting container for your Redbud tree cutting and fill it up with one part peat, coarse sand, or perlite. We the soil well and allow the excess water to drain.
Take several softwood cuttings that are six inches in length with a 1/4-inch diameter. Next, sever the cutting beneath a leaf using a sharp, sterilized knife.
Remove the lower part leaves to expose the nodes and treat the cut end with a rooting hormone.
Make a planting hole to cover the bottom half of the Weeping Redbud cutting and insert it into the hole. Firm down the soil mixture to keep it standing up straight.
Place the container plants out of direct sunlight in part shade and cover them with a plastic bag without it resting on the cutting.
If you have a heating coil, you can warm it up when temperatures are below 65°F. In addition, you can mist your cutting twice daily as the heating coil can dry out the stem and leaves.
Check the moisture levels daily and water as needed. Also, check for new roots and transplant your cuttings when they reach 10 inches into a new container filled with the recommended garden soil.
Then place your new tree in light shade and provide them water to help them acclimate to standing in full sun.
When hardened, you can plant your Ruby Falls Redbud tree into the ground in direct sunlight with shade. Ass some mulch to help retain moisture and protect the root system.
Redbud Varieties
While the Weeping Redbud trees look beautiful in the garden, other cultivars are available for planting in the landscape.
Eastern Redbud
The Eastern Redbud blooms dark pink flowers in early spring to transform your yard into a fairytale wonderland. It is a hardy tree that can withstand fluctuating temperatures and is drought-tolerant.
You can grow the Eastern Redbud in different soils. The flowers have a sweat-peat smell, and the color of the foliage lasts from spring to autumn. The tree can handle the full sun with shade, displaying green leaves with flowers from spring to summer. In the autumn, the foliage turns yellow.
Forest Pansy Redbud Tree
The Redbud tree is fast-growing, with wine-colored leaves that change green as the climate warms up and yellow in autumn. So, if you want something different to add to the landscape, this tree will brighten up your yard.
Oklahoma Redbud Tree
The Redbud tree has rose-purple blooms in spring that stand out. It is drought and heat tolerant to growing in arid conditions.
Ruby Falls Redbud Common Pests and Diseases
While many pests do not bother your tree, the tree-boring insect may become a problem. Other concerns are cankers and leaf spots. Leaf spots can result from incorrect circulation of air.
