'Ruby Falls' Redbud
Cercis canadensis
'Ruby Falls' Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 6–8 ft tall and 4–6 ft wide, slow-growing, needs medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade to dappled sun. Eastern redbud is borderline in our alkaline soils and intense sun, choose Western seed strains ('Oklahoma', 'Minnesota Strain', var. texensis) and plant in a protected microclimate.
medium water6–8 ft tall and 4–6 ft wideDeer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4–9
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade, dappled sun. Flowers best with more sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.8
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 6–8 ft tall and 4–6 ft wide
- Mature form
- Spreading
- Spacing / clearance
- ~6 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Lifespan
- Medium
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- early spring, mid spring
- Bloom color
- pink, purple
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Cold HardinessThe average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- Watch: ExposureIt wants shelter; open, windy, reflected-heat sites batter it, so tuck it against a building or a windbreak.
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'Ruby Falls' Redbud good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, 'Ruby Falls' Redbud is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- Why is 'Ruby Falls' Redbud only conditionally recommended on the Front Range?
- The main catches here: The average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- How big does 'Ruby Falls' Redbud get?
- It matures to about 6–8 ft tall and 4–6 ft wide.
- How much room does 'Ruby Falls' Redbud need?
- Give 'Ruby Falls' Redbud about 6 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does 'Ruby Falls' Redbud grow into?
- 'Ruby Falls' Redbud typically grows into a wide, spreading habit, broader than it is tall, give it room and keep it back from buildings. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is 'Ruby Falls' Redbud hardy on the Front Range?
- 'Ruby Falls' Redbud is hardy in USDA 4–9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: The average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- How much water does 'Ruby Falls' Redbud need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does 'Ruby Falls' Redbud grow?
- 'Ruby Falls' Redbud is a slow-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does 'Ruby Falls' Redbud live?
- 'Ruby Falls' Redbud has a moderate lifespan for a Front Range tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- Is 'Ruby Falls' Redbud native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is 'Ruby Falls' Redbud deer-resistant?
- 'Ruby Falls' Redbud is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
