Page 51 - MNLGA Free State Spring 2025_WEB

The first of the burgundy foliage Sun™ also has new foliage through structure all year long. Two of the
plants started with ‘Forest Pansy’ the heat of summer, with the new weeping Redbuds are a result of a
which has shimmering reddish purple foliage an apricot color that changes breeding program at North Carolina
foliage that fades to green in the heat to light yellow as the leaves expand, State. ‘Carolina Sweetheart’ has
of summer. ‘Burgundy Hearts’ has finally maturing to a bright green. The slender semi arching branches and a
dark red burgundy foliage with green backdrop of green mature leaves with rounded crown, making a wonderful
veins, and holds its color through the the colorful new apricot and yellow specimen plant that can grow 20-30
heat of summer, turning soft yellow in leaves provides color all summer into feet tall and wide. The lovely pink
the autumn. ‘Merlot’ is a much more the autumn. flowers cover the arching branches
vigorous growing vase shaped tree Plant breeders love to play with providing beauty in the early spring.
that produces thick glossy purple plants, and it is no surprise to find It also has foliage that starts as dark
leaves until the heat of summer when purple heart shaped leaves that fade

There are 12 native species of Lepidoptera, (butterflies, skippers and

moths) who use the tree foliage for their young caterpillars. Henry’s Elfin

butterfly gets its nectar from the Redbud flowers in early spring and their

young caterpillars feed on the foliage.

they change to burgundy green. to pure white, pink, rose and purple
There are also some yellow or golden a few weeping varieties of Redbud. foliage that mature to a rich green,
™
colored Redbuds including ‘Hearts of Lavender Twist was one of the first and sometimes bands of white in
Gold’ where the new foliage is yellow cascading plants that has shoots that summer. Winter allows the sculpture
with tints of reddish purple, then arch upward and then downwards of the tree to decorate the landscape.
expands to full yellow until the heat to form an umbrella shaped crown. ‘Whitewater’ is a true weeping tree,
of summer where the older foliage These lovely plants are perfect for growing only 6 feet tall with a narrow
turns a rich dark green with the new a small garden or as a specimen spread of 2-3’, perfect for a specimen
leaves a lemon yellow. The Rising plant, growing only 5-6 feet tall and or a small garden or even as planted
6-8 feet wide, providing artistic
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Cercis Canadensis The Rising Sun Leaves. Credit: Ginny Rozenkranz Cercis Ruby Falls
Membership Matters • SPRING 2025 51