Cercis canadensis 'White Pom Poms'
- Phonetic Spelling
- SER-sis kan-a-DEN-sis
- Description
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'White Pom Poms' is a cultivar of the native redbud tree in the bean (Fabaceae) family created by the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Department of Horticultural Science and released in 2022. It is a cross between 'Dwarf White' (white single flowers), and 'Flame' (double purple flowers). This tree was then backcrossed with 'Royal White' (single white flowers) to obtain a tree with uniformly double, white flowers.
Flowers are white, fully double, with up to 25 petals per flower (5 petals is typical for redbud). Flower production is heavy. Flowers are female sterile, hence no fruit (seed) pods are formed. Flowering is typically about 7 to 10 days after the usual flowering time of redbud. Leaves remain attractive throughout the growing season and show very limited leaf spot or necrosis, often problematic for redbud in NC. It will grow up to 12 feet in height.
Redbuds will grow in full sun to part shade, are pH tolerant and do well in moist average well-draining soils. Use as a specimen, accent or understory tree. Great for small yards. Redbuds in general do not transplant well so choose your site carefully.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: More resistant to some diseases than other redbuds. 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.
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- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cercis
- Species:
- canadensis
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- 12 species of Lepidoptera use this tree as a larval host plant. Host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly. Caterpillars appear from February to May and have one flight.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 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 Description:
- No fruit
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Double white sterile flowers with up to 25 petals. Flowers grow in clusters right on new stems as well as older branches.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, alternate heart-shaped leaves, 3 to 5 inches long and wide, with smooth, entire margins. Bases are cordate, acute apex, with swelling on petioles just underneath the leaf plate. 7 palmate veins extend from the leaf base. New growth has a reddish tint. Attractive yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Dark Brown
- 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 Description:
- Slender, glabrous, dark reddish brown to black, zig-zag, spreading and ascending.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
