Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Pauline Lily')
Cercis canadensis 'Pauline Lily' is a lovely Eastern redbud cultivar featuring pale pink blooms. It grows 15-20 ft high, tolerates clay, and offers low maintenance beauty.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Cercis canadensis ‘Pauline Lily’ offers a refined variation on the beloved native Eastern redbud, distinguished by its delicate floral display. This cultivar showcases salmon pink buds opening into striking pale pink or nearly white, pea-like flowers directly on the bare branches in early spring. It provides vital early nectar while offering manageable size, maturing between 15 to 20 feet tall with a slightly wider spread.
As a low-maintenance deciduous tree, the Eastern redbud brings significant structural interest to the landscape, even after the blooms fade. Its heart-shaped foliage emerges with a lovely yellow hue, maturing to bronze green before offering excellent yellow fall color. This characteristic makes Cercis canadensis ‘Pauline Lily’ a wonderful specimen choice.
This beautiful tree is recognized for its resilience, tolerating difficult conditions such as clay soils and the presence of black walnut roots, while deer typically avoid it. Planting Cercis canadensis ‘Pauline Lily’ young ensures successful establishment, rewarding the gardener with spectacular spring color year after year.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Fabaceae
- Plant Type: Tree
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 15-20 ft
- Spread: 20-30 ft
- Bloom Time: April
- Bloom Description: Pale pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
The best time to plant the Eastern redbud, including the ‘Pauline Lily’ variety, is when young. Since this tree does not transplant well when mature, plan its permanent location carefully. It thrives in average, medium-moisture, well-drained soils. While it tolerates full sun, gardeners should provide part shade in locations known for intense summer heat or high sun exposure.
Ensure moderate fertility, as this variety performs best in moderately fertile soils. Crucially, avoid planting in areas prone to wet or poorly drained conditions, despite its adaptability to clay soil. Consistent moisture is key during establishment and dry periods; use medium watering practices to keep the soil consistently damp but not saturated.
Maintenance for Cercis canadensis ‘Pauline Lily’ is generally low. Pruning should be limited to removing dead or damaged branches as needed, especially if cankers or dieback occur. Regular attention during dry spells to ensure adequate water will keep the tree vigorous and discourages pest issues.
Landscape Uses
The versatile nature of the Eastern redbud, particularly the graceful appearance of Cercis canadensis ‘Pauline Lily’, lends itself well to varied landscape applications. It functions excellently as a specimen tree near patios where its early flowers can be fully appreciated, or planted in small groups to create a stunning early spring focal point. Its structure also allows it to shine along woodland margins or integrated into shrub borders.
Due to its strong tolerance for clay soil and shade, this tree is a reliable choice for street tree planting, provided adequate room is allowed for its 20 to 30-foot spread. In naturalized or informal garden settings, the Eastern redbud offers an unpretentious yet dramatic display. Furthermore, consider using cut branches indoors toward the end of winter for forcing, as the flowers readily bloom inside, bringing the excitement of spring early.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Cercis canadensis, commonly called eastern redbud, is a deciduous, often multi-trunked understory tree with a rounded crown that typically matures to 20-30’ tall with a slightly larger spread. It is particularly noted for its stunning pea-like rose-purple flowers which bloom profusely on bare branches in early spring (March-April) before the foliage emerges. This tree is native to eastern and central North America from Connecticut to New York to southern Ontario and the Great Lakes south to Western Texas and Florida. The ‘Pauline Lily’ cultivar specifically emerges with salmon pink buds opening into pale pink blooms, and the heart-shaped foliage emerges yellow in spring before maturing to bronze green and turning yellow again in the fall.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Clay Soil
- Black Walnut
Potential Problems
While generally hardy, the Eastern redbud can be susceptible to fungal diseases, most notably canker, which can cause dieback. Always keep the tree as vigorous as possible through proper watering and site selection to naturally bolster its defenses. Other potential issues include Verticillium wilt, leaf spots, and mildew.
Insect pests commonly observed include Japanese beetles, borers, scale, and various leaf hoppers. Routine inspection, especially during warmer months, allows for early intervention. Pruning out any dead wood immediately helps manage the spread of potential diseases like canker and improves overall tree health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Eastern redbud suitable for?
Cercis canadensis ‘Pauline Lily’ performs best in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9. Ensure your location falls within this range for optimal perennial performance.
How large does the Eastern redbud grow?
This cultivar typically reaches a mature height between 15 and 20 feet tall, accompanied by a spread ranging from 20 to 30 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Cercis canadensis ‘Pauline Lily’ need?
This Eastern redbud variety prefers full sun but benefits significantly from part shade, especially during the hottest part of the summer climate.
When does Eastern redbud bloom?
The spectacular floral display occurs in April, featuring abundant clusters of showy, pale pink, pea-like flowers emerging before the leaves.
Conclusion
The Eastern redbud cultivar ‘Pauline Lily’ offers a superb blend of early spring impact and structural appeal with minimal gardener effort. Its unique pale pink blooms and tolerance for challenging soils make Cercis canadensis ‘Pauline Lily’ an indispensable choice for the refined landscape. Before planting, confirm that your site conditions align with its USDA Zone 5-9 compatibility and provide the necessary medium moisture.
Wildlife Benefits
The early flowering nature of this Eastern redbud is incredibly valuable as it provides one of the first significant nectar sources available to hummingbirds right after winter. Additionally, the seeds produced in the dry bean-like pods are an important food source consumed by various songbirds throughout the season. Insects that feed on the foliage and wood of the Eastern redbud also serve as crucial protein for nesting bird populations.
Companion Planting
Given that Cercis canadensis ‘Pauline Lily’ prefers medium moisture and well-drained soil, select companion plants that share similar cultural needs. Consider pairing it with spring ephemeral bulbs, such as Daffodils or Squill, which will bloom simultaneously or shortly before the tree. For summer structure underneath the canopy, hostas or ferns thrive in the dappled shade this tree creates as its foliage develops, provided care is taken not to compete heavily with the shallow root system.
