The Canadian Cercis: beautiful flowers and leaves
Cercis canadensis is a small tree native to North America with undeniable aesthetic assets: elegant foliage for 8 months of the year and, just before the leaves appear, a beautiful purplish-pink bloom that appears on the entire plant, including the trunk (cauliflora).
Weeping and erect cercis
There are two types of cercis du Canada. The weeping ones (ex.: Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls' - 2 meters high), and the erect ones. Of the latter, there are different colors:
- Cercis canadensis 'The Rising Sun': young golden orange leaves, then yellow, green and finally orange in autumn.
- Cercis canadensis 'Merlot': bright purple leaves.
- Cercis canadensis 'Carolina Sweetheart': young pink-red leaves that give way to a mix of dark green, creamy-white, pale yellow and pink tones.
Cultivation of the Canadian Cercis
Canadian cercis are hardy trees (up to -25°C) that are reasonably resistant to drought. They are planted in spring or autumn, by adding compost to the planting hole, not forgetting to install a stake so that they can root properly, without moving. We finish the plantation by installing a mulch in order to limit the evaporation of water from the soil.
Pests and diseases
Canadian cercis are rather resistant. However, a few small caterpillars may nibble on a few leaves, but nothing to worry about.
Advantages of the Canadian cercis
- A beautiful colored foliage from April to October / November, depending on the region;
- An interesting flowering range, from the beginning to the end of April, depending on the region. Most often purplish pink, the flowers can also be white (Cercis Canadensis 'Vanilla Twist' with a weeping habit, very floriferous), single or double.
Pruning Cercis Canadensis
Cercis are pruned after flowering.
- Weeping cercis can be pruned to encourage branching, but this is not mandatory.
- The erect cercis are pruned to promote branching or to maintain the tree at a 'reasonable' size, knowing that they are, in any case, small trees that reach, at 10 or 15 years, a height of 3 to 4 meters.
