Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' - Love tree



Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is very beautiful while flowering, but in the summer it is just like any other tree with green leaves. Last year I finally got a cercis with purple leaves Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'.

Forest Pansy is often called The Love Tree because of the unusual shape and colour of its leaves which do look like a heart icon. Their colour is bronze to deep burgundy, sometimes with green shades or veins. This small sized tree has an upright habit with low branches and is attractive all year round not only because of the foliage but also for its unique small pea-like flowers which come out in April/May and are bright pink.
They appear on bare branches before the leaves. It has no special soil requirements, but it needs a lot of moisture - not a wet spot and a place sheltered from strong early spring sunlight and freezing winter winds. Do not prune.

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