The exciting landscape potential of this new cultivar is electrifying the nursery industry.
Ruby Falls Redbud is exploding off the charts of woody plant desirability as an entirely new variety, displaying purple foliage on a small weeping form of this native understory tree. A new and distinct cultivar, this attention-getting combo of features sets Ruby Falls apart from all other existing cultivars of redbud tree.
Ruby Falls, an F2 hybrid, inherited its weeping form from one parent plant: the weeping green 'Covey' redbud (aka Lavender Twist™), and its dark ruby-purple leaf color from another parent: 'Forest Pansy' redbud. In combination these traits set Ruby Falls apart as a new specimen form.
Weeping, pendulous, cascading Ruby Falls Redbud exhibits an excellent branching structure. Zig-zaging branches form a cascading crown. The weeping tree reaches a moderate height of 4-6 feet and a spread 6-8 feet.
Redbuds are true harbingers of spring. Ruby Falls blooms profusely in early spring when clusters of tiny hot pink rose-purple, pea-like flowers accentuate the bare, pendulous branches and mature trunks for 2-3 weeks (March-April) before the foliage emerges. Flowers are attractive to pollinators and seed pods resembling snow peas appear in summer.
The rich, purple, heart-shaped leaves open bright ruby-purple in spring, then gradually mature to deep purple, and ultimately change to green as the season progresses. Fall color on this deciduous ornamental is yellow until leaf drop in early winter.
Ruby Falls Redbud provides a spectacular pendulous waterfall of alluring color for garden and landscape and is perfectly suited to be a specimen or garden feature plant due to its eye-catching weeping form and large red foliage. Small gardens enjoy the elegance and small stature of Ruby Falls. The cultivar benefits from an exposure of part sun to shade and is easily grown in a range of well-drained soil types; do not overwater. It is hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 6 – 9. Birds, butterflies and bees find Ruby Falls attractive and visit frequently.
For more information on Ruby Falls Redbud (PPAF) and other superior plant introductions brought to gardeners by Garden Debut®, visit GardenDebut.com.
Statistics Chart for Ruby Falls Redbud (PPAF), F2 hybrid of Cercis canadensis ‘Covey’ (synonym Lavender Twist™) x Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
| Plant Category: | Deciduous flowering tree |
| Mature Height: | 4-6 feet |
| Mature Spread: | 6-8 feet |
| Mature Form: | Weeping, pendulous, cascading form. The perfect specimen tree for small yards. |
| Growth Rate: | Moderate |
| Sun Exposure: | Best grown in part sun to shade |
| Heat Tolerance: | Lovely choice for those gardeners and landscape designers looking for dark foliage on a small, weeping tree with added bonuses of flowering and native. |
| Soil Moisture: | Well-drained soils, regular watering when establishing a new specimen |
| Soil Type: | Loamy, Sandy, or Clay; wide range |
| Flower Color: | Tiny, bright pink, rose-purple, pea-like flowers, profuse blooming |
| Bloom Time: | Flowers on bare branches in early spring |
| Seed Pods: | Flat pods resembling snow peas in summer |
| Summer Color: | Deciduous, heart-shaped dark purple leaves, ultimately changing to green |
| Fall Color: | Yellow color in autumn |
| pH Level: | 5.5 – 7.5 |
| Zones: | 6 – 9 |
| Heredity: | U.S., Breeder Dr. Dennis Werner, Plant Haven, Inc., CA on behalf of North Caroling State University |
Nice piece. "Carolina" is spelled incorrectly in the last line of the summary table.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anonymous! Apologize for typo
ReplyDeleteJust bought Ruby falls weeping redbud.....tag states 6 or more hours of sun .This article says part-sun or shade
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous, part sun or shade in the Deep South, 6 or more hours of sun for gardens on the northern part of the range. Thanks for asking!
ReplyDeleteZones seem to be changing from a few decades ago - would this cultivar be suitable for the Finger Lakes area in upstate NY? (Zip Code 14513)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Sorry - I should have specified NORTHERN Fingerlakes. We are between and a few miles north of the northern tips of Geneva and Canandaigua lakes.
ReplyDeleteDear Linda S, your lakes should provide some warming, but I'm not sure Ruby Falls has been tested there recently. What is your USDA Zone? Do your local nurseries carry the plant? What does your local Cooperative Extension Service think? If you try it, by all means let us know. thanks!
ReplyDeleteI planted my redbud in the spring and it was doing great. We have had an abundance of rain in the last month. The last couple of days it looks droopy and the leaves are turning brown. Do you think it will bounce back?
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed, Anonymous! not sure but hoping that you provided excellent drainage in the planting hole and did not create a "bathtub effect" see this extension info: http://www.ugaurbanag.com/content/better-way-plant-shrubs-and-trees
ReplyDeleteOnly problem I find is that the deer in my area find this tree very tasty so I placed an 8' tall (overkill!) by 4' diameter cage around it. It is protected and I am able to see it. Ruby Falls is absolutely beautiful, especially in the spring with the bright pink flowers and followed by the red leaves! Love the weeping shape and small size. Put it in a meditation garden which is shady and it is doing well.
ReplyDeleteCan Ruby Falls handle wind? I was considering it for a SW exposure, so in mid-late summer it would get quite a bit of sun, and at various points of the year, some pretty brisk winds.
ReplyDeleteShould add it's in the Buffalo, NY area - recently reclassified from zone 5 to 6a
ReplyDeleteI planted my 24.0 quart tree in April 2013 in Dallas, Texas , and it seems to be doing real well. Looking forward to the new spring flowers and foliage next spring!
ReplyDeleteWe are considering this beautiful tree concerned about sun. We are zone 7 USA NE Maryland boarding Pa and De. Can it tolerate full sun no shade? Thanks
ReplyDeleteThe Garden Debut website indicates SHADE http://www.gardendebut.com/plant/Ruby-Falls-Redbud
ReplyDeletebest,
Geri
I just purchased my Ruby Falls and it is beautiful. I'd like to plant in a pot of for the first summer to see how it performs in the sunny spot I selected. This would allow me to move to some shade if needed. Then I would transfer to the ground in the fall. Will it survive in a pot for the summer or should I go ahead and plant if the ground? I live in North Calolina.
ReplyDeleteHello, I was admiring someone's tree and think it is a Ruby Falls Redbud. It is weeping with LARGE heart shaped leaves the size of my hand. Does the Ruby Falls have leaves that large? I think I would like to have one in my yard. I live in NJ and the place I would plant one gets sun most of the day. Do you think that would be ok?
ReplyDeleteHi Lucinda, Is your location in NJ in USDA Hardiness Zone 6-9? B/c that's what is recommended for Ruby Falls.
ReplyDeleteBest, Geri
Hello, I am on the verge of purchasing a Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud, but would like to know if the roots would interfere with underground water lines? It is a beautiful tree!
ReplyDeleteI should state that I am zone 7.
ReplyDeleteI believe you mistakenly reversed you height and spread specifications. Height should be 6-8', Spread 4-6'.
ReplyDeleteJohn Robilotti, LA
I believe you mistakenly reversed the stated size specifications. Should be Height:6-8', Spread:4-6'. John Robilotti,LA
ReplyDeleteMy Ruby Falls is almost 4 ft. tall with branches spreading well over 6 ft. mostly on the ground. Do I need to prune the branches back and keep off the ground? That are growing through my other plants.
ReplyDeleteI have the same question.
DeleteI have a Ruby Falls that did great for two years. This last spring we had a very hard late freeze. I mean in the low 20s, Farhenheit. The top of the tree froze and died. However, there is a shoot growing about 2 feet up from the ground on the original trunk. The original is a little over 5 ft tall.There are also several shoots coming up from the base of the tree. If we cut the trunk just above the shoot growing about 2 ft up, do you think we could encourage a full new tree? Or, would it be better to try a completely new from one of the base shoots?
ReplyDelete