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.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
The Cercis canadensis Ruby Falls or Ruby Falls Redbud, Eastern 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.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Ruby Falls Redbud responds well to direct sunlight and does best in partial shade, whereas Western Redbud thrives in full sun. That’s why eastern redbud ‘Ruby Falls’ is found in a variety of moist, well-drained soils, and grows more densely on sunny slopes where it enjoys more intense sunlight with less plant competition.
Temperature and Humidity
As the Ruby Falls 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.
Watering
Originating from temperate regions, Ruby Falls Redbud has adapted to moderate moisture levels in its native habitat. It exhibits a preference for consistent moisture but is capable of withstanding short periods of drought. For optimal health, eastern redbud ‘Ruby Falls’ should be watered once every three weeks, ensuring the soil does not completely dry out between watering sessions. Typically grown outdoors due to its size and ornamental nature, eastern redbud ‘Ruby Falls’ thrives when seasonal rains complement its watering schedule, aligning with its growth cycles and enhancing its flowering potential.
Soil
Ruby Falls Redbud can well grow outdoors in moist, loamy, or sandy soils. Its occurrence on slopes with more sunlight is prevalent. It is acclimatized to a wide range of pH; however, it thrives best with a pH range of 6.6-7.8 or above. It doesn’t tolerate inundated sites, poorly aerated soils, or sandy soils.
Western Redbud is adapted to grow in a wide variety of soils, including course and nutrient-deficient soils that are well-drained. It grows as an understory cover tree and is fairly tolerable to lime and acidic soils. It also tolerates alkaline soil and clay; its best pH range is 5.5-7.8.
Fertilizing
The Ruby Falls 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.
Planting Instructions
Ruby Falls Redbud is fairly easy to propagate by direct sowing. It can also be grown in a container during spring or fall.
Collect seeds from pods with a dark brown or reddish-brown color, as this indicates the maturity of the seed pods. Preserve seeds in an airtight container at 3 ℃. The hard outer seed covering requires seed scarification and stratification to break dormancy. Put seeds in steaming hot water for 30 minutes and follow moist sand stratification for 6-8 weeks at 5 ℃. Seeds are now ready to be planted during the current fall or upcoming spring.
Dig the soil to a depth of 30 cm; make a fine tilth that allows the young roots to easily penetrate it.
Ruby Falls Redbud has a tap root system that grows quickly during the first year. Bed size can be adjusted depending on the available space. During late spring, put your seeds in the bed to a depth of 4 to 5 cm and cover gently with garden soil. Seedlings or already growing plants can also be planted in prepared beds adopting the “balled and burlapped” method.
Pruning
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.
Propagation
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 yo
- ur Ruby Falls Redbud tree into the ground in direct sunlight with shade. Ass some mulch to help retain moisture and protect the root system.
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.
III. Uses and Benefits
Ruby Falls is appropriate in most landscape locations, but the small stature of this tree makes it ideal for small gardens. Use it as a specimen or accent, in small groups or as a barrier, and as a small shade tree.
