Hearts of Gold Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold')
SIR-sis kan-ah-DEN-sis 'Hearts of Gold'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Vase-Shaped to Rounded in the Fabaceae Family
 
Buy Hearts of Gold Eastern Redbud
Size Notes Price Availability
#7 gallon Field $168.03 Likely available
1/24 - 4/4

Hearts of Gold was discovered in 2002 as a chance seedling growing in a private garden in Greensboro, North Carolina, then propagated and introduced to the trade in 2007 by breeder Jon L. Roethling under US Plant Patent 17,740. Its heart-shaped leaves emerge orange-red, pass through a bright gold phase, and settle into chartreuse-gold for summer (the gold holds longest in full sun), before finishing the season in shades of red and orange. Small pinkish-purple, pea-like flowers appear on bare branches ahead of the foliage in early spring.

Pros

  • Spectacular early-spring flower show on bare branches, before most other trees have even leafed out
  • Small, well-behaved size (20-30ft) that fits easily into smaller yards and under power lines
  • Heart-shaped leaves and interesting seed pods add multi-season interest
  • Supports native bees and other early-season pollinators when few other flowers are available

Cons

  • Has a taproot and does not transplant well once established — site it carefully while young
  • Relatively short-lived for a tree, typically 20-25 years
  • Susceptible to canker and Verticillium wilt, which can kill branches or the whole tree
  • Branches are somewhat brittle and can break in ice or wind storms
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 20 - 25 feet tall. 25 - 35 feet wide.
Growth Rate Medium
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 5a - 9b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Colorful Foliage, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Fall Color, Flowering Tree, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Asian Garden, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Illinois Native, Medium, Medium, Nativar, Native to North America, Ornamental Tree, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Shade Tree, Showy Flowers, Specimen, Street Tree, Well-Drained Soil, Yellow Foliage
Bloom Period March to April
Flower Color Pinkish-Purple
Foliage Color Orange-Red to Gold
 

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!