Cercis Canadensis ‘Flamethrower’ (R) 7 Gal

Redbud - Flame Thower®
Cercis canadensis 'NC2016-2' PP #31,260

🔥Fiery flaming foliage!🔥

Absolutely spectacular! A glowing, vibrant, graduated blend of rich burgundy-red, gold, and green foliage visible at the same time. Red-purple early spring blooms on bare branches; fall foliage color varies from bright to pale gold. These compact trees are perfect showstoppers for smaller landscapes!

A stunning selection from our WNC native species by Dennis Werner at NC State University, they are sturdy little trees, and can be planted near Black Walnuts.

🎓Help students: A portion of the proceeds of the sale of each plant supports the NCSU Horticulture program.

🐦Help the Birds: According to the Audubon Society, planting these trees can attract and help: Cardinals, Chickadees, Jays, Finches, Hummingbirds, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Blackbirds, New World Sparrows, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Wrens, and more.

🦋Help the Butterflies and Moths: In NC, Redbuds are the host plants for at least 39 species of moths, including the showy Io Moth (Automeris io - pictured) and White Flannel Moth (Norape cretata - pictured). Redbuds are also butterfly host plants in NC for Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici) and the lovely Spicebush Swallowtail (Pterourus troilus - pictured); and butterfly nectar plants for the elusive but wonderful Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus - pictured), Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici), and Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis). 

🐝Help the Bees: bees are attracted to the nutritious nectar and pollen.

🏆Award winning! Winner of the prestigious Plant of the Year 2021 at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show. 

🦌Deer resistant - deer tend to avoid these trees.

12-15’T x 15’W.

Zones 5-9, cold hardy down to -20F.

💚Plant Nerd: While wildlife rely on the flowers for survival, they are edible for humans, even when raw! Add a handful of young, fresh flowers to salads. Older flowers are excellent in jams, jellies, dried for granola, and used for herbal teas/tisanes. 

Try this recipe:  

• 2 cups fresh redbud blossoms
• 2 quarts water
  
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Add sweetener of choice (maple syrup, agave syrup, cane sugar, or honey) to your desired level of sweetness

Chop blooms, then add chopped blooms to a pot with 2 quarts cold water. Bring the mixture to a light (not heavy) boil. As soon as the bubbles break the surface of the water, cut the heat, cover the pot with a lid, and steep the tea for 15 minutes. Pour the steeped tea through a strainer into a pitcher. Add lemon juice and sweetener of choice, stir to blend, and enjoy! The used blooms can be composted.

Redbud trees are best planted in one location and left there, it's best to plan carefully and ensure sunny conditions prior to planting.