best Redbud variety - Ask Extension
What would be the best Redbud variety for a site with south and west exposure (on the south side of our house), northern Larimer county?
Knowledgebase
best Redbud variety #927485
Asked April 04, 2026, 10:45 AM EDT
What would be the best Redbud variety for a site with south and west exposure (on the south side of our house), northern Larimer county?
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Page,
Most redbuds aren't a cultivar, and typically what is planted is the eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis. You'll want to find a tree where the seed was collected from a northern source (like Minnesota or Wisconsin). Trees from Texas or Oklahoma don't have the cold hardiness that we'll need.
I would avoid getting a tree from a box store and purchase one at a local nursery - they can also typically tell you the source of where the tree was grown.
The cultivars 'Alba', 'Forest Pansy', and 'Ruby Falls' all have potential hardiness issues and limited availability. I would recommend you just stick with C. canadensis.
Most redbuds aren't a cultivar, and typically what is planted is the eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis. You'll want to find a tree where the seed was collected from a northern source (like Minnesota or Wisconsin). Trees from Texas or Oklahoma don't have the cold hardiness that we'll need.
I would avoid getting a tree from a box store and purchase one at a local nursery - they can also typically tell you the source of where the tree was grown.
The cultivars 'Alba', 'Forest Pansy', and 'Ruby Falls' all have potential hardiness issues and limited availability. I would recommend you just stick with C. canadensis.
