Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SER-sis kan-a-DEN-sis
- Description
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'Hearts of Gold' is a cultivar of the native redbud tree in the bean family (Fabaceae). It will grow 20-25 feet tall and 25-35 feet wide. This tree was first found growing in a garden in Greensboro, NC in 2002. It was then asexually reproduced by a nursery in TN and eventually marketed as 'Hearts of Gold' in 2007 under U.S. Plant Patent PP17,740.
The genus name Cercis comes from the Greek word kerkis, which means weaver's shuttle, referring to the fact that the seed pod resembles the size and shape of a weaver's shuttle used to move thread back and forth on a loom.
This tree produces gold-colored heart-shaped leaves in spring. In full sun the leaves maintain their color into summer and then change to chartreuse. In part shade, the leaves will be a greener chartreuse. In early spring the pinkish purple pea-shaped flowers appear before leaf-out along the stems. This cultivar will bloom on 1-year-old stems rather than 2 year old as most of the other cultivars do.
'Hearts of Gold' needs full sun to partial shade in moderately fertile well-drained moist soils. It is pH adaptable and deer resistant but doesn't tolerate wet soils. Keep the soil evenly moist the first year and water during periods of drought thereafter. Be sure to choose your site carefully as redbuds do not transplant well due to a deep tap root.
Serving as a host plant for Henry's elfin butterfly (Callophrys henrici), this tree can be planted as a specimen in a pollinator garden. It can also be planted as an understory tree in a wooded landscape, in small groups, or mass planted for a dramatic springtime effect. It may also be planted as a street or lawn tree but is very sensitive to herbicides and chemicals sprayed on lawns.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect pests include leafhoppers, caterpillars, borers, Japanese beetles, treehoppers, scale, and webworms. Possible diseases include canker, dieback, leaf spots, verticillium wilt, blights, and mildew. It can be a short-lived tree, typically living less than 75 years.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cercis
- Species:
- canadensis
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- 12 species of Lepidoptera use this tree as a larval host plant. Leafcutter bees (such as Megachile rotundata) and other bees use this plant (as shown in a picture). Host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly. Butterflies and other insects nectar from the flowers. Caterpillars appear from February to May and have one flight. Adult Henry's Elfin butterflies feed on flower nectar. Songbirds and small mammals occasionally eat the seeds.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- By summer (after flowers) but possibly lasting through fall and even winter, this plant has green turning to brown, flat, oblong seedpods (with about 9 seeds per pod) which are about 2 to 4 inches long. The brown seed pods can look a little untidy hanging from the tree into the winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small showy pinkish-purple pea-shaped flowers appear early spring before leafing out in clusters of about 7 flowers. Individual flowers are 1/2 inch wide
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Oval heart-shaped semi-glossy leaves are 3-5 inches long and wide. New growth on the gold leaves is reddish. The gold leaves gradually change to chartreuse during the summer.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Orange
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- Dark brown to black with orange inner bark that can be visible. Smooth when young, but developing long, narrow plates that separate into scales as the tree matures.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Slender, glabrous, dark reddish brown to black stems are spreading and ascending
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Compaction
- Deer
- Fire
- Problems:
- Short-lived
