Chinese Redbud

Chinese Redbud 'Faerie Queen' (Cercis chinensis) is a small deciduous tree that reaches about 4m tall and 3m wide, small enough for an ordinary suburban garden. In late winter and early spring the bare branches are covered in clusters of rosy pink to purple pea flowers, held tight against the wood before a single leaf appears. Heart shaped leaves follow, then turn butter yellow in autumn.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers before anything else wakes up. The blossom opens straight from bare stems at the end of winter, when little else is open and bees have few options.
• It stays small. At 4m by 3m it fits a courtyard, a front garden or a narrow side bed without ever needing to be cut back to fit.
• Roots that stay put. Non invasive roots make it one of the safer small trees to plant near paving, paths and service lines.
• Two seasons of colour. Pink and purple flowers in early spring, then clean yellow foliage in autumn.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single tree beside a path, a deck or a window is the classic use. The flowering is short lived, and the bare branching structure carries the tree through winter.

Small gardens. Its mature size suits courtyards and townhouse blocks where an ornamental pear would eventually outgrow the space.

Pots and containers. It grows well in a large pot, at least 50cm wide and deep, if the mix drains and the pot never bakes dry through summer.

Growing Chinese Redbud in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering, though it accepts part shade. This is a tree for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It is genuinely frost hardy and wants a cold winter to flower well, so tropical and subtropical gardens are the wrong home for it.

Soil. Any reasonable garden soil that drains. It dislikes wet feet, so improve heavy clay with compost and plant slightly proud of the surrounding level. Mulch 75mm deep, off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers. After that it is drought tolerant, needing help only in long dry spells. A complete fertiliser as buds swell in late winter is all the feeding it asks for.

Pruning. Keep it light. Remove crossing or damaged branches straight after flowering. Redbuds seal large wounds slowly, so avoid taking off thick limbs.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold in one size, a 45L pot: an advanced tree carrying real height and branch structure on day one. Because it is deciduous, a tree shipped between late autumn and late winter arrives bare stemmed. That is normal, and it leafs out on schedule in spring.

Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a settling year before the first strong flowering. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare small trees for urban gardens
• Trees with non invasive roots
• Browse plants with autumn colour
• Choosing between evergreen and deciduous trees

Common questions

Will it flower in a warm climate?

Not reliably. It needs winter cold to set a heavy bud, so tropical and subtropical gardens see thin, patchy flowering at best. Cool temperate and inland districts get the best display.

How quickly does it grow?

Moderately. Expect 20cm to 40cm of extension a year once settled, reaching mature size in roughly ten to fifteen years.

Can I plant it near a paved courtyard?

Yes. Its roots are non invasive and the canopy stays under 3m wide, which is why it is often chosen where larger deciduous trees would be a risk.

Does it lose its leaves every year?

Yes, it is fully deciduous. Leaves colour yellow in autumn and drop, leaving a bare framework until the flowers open on the wood.