Cercis chinensis 'Avondale'
AVONDALE REDBUD, CHINESE REDBUD
syn. N/A
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Pronounced: SER-sis chi-NEN-sis
Quick Jumps
Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes
GROWING GUIDE
Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Trees.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 4-24.
USDA zones: 6-9.
Heat zones: 9-3.
Mature size:
Height: 10-12 feet (3-4 m).
Width: 10-12 feet (3-4 m).
Flowering period:
April.
Flowering attributes:
Deep pink-purple buds open to pink, pea-like flowers that hug the trunk and stems of the tree in stalkless clusters.
Leaf attributes:
Heart-shaped, glossy green leaves.
Light:
Full sun to light shade.
Soil:
Fertile, moist, well-drained soil.
Feeding:
Side dress with compost
Propagation Methods:
Root semi-ripe cuttings.
Pests and Diseases:
Scale, weevils, caterpillars, leaf spots, blight, Verticillium wilt may be a problem.
Rainy Side Notes
In my garden, the month of April escorts the lovely Cercis chinensis ‘Avondale’ to center stage. April is when dark fuchsia-pink flower buds burst open to pink flowers all along the barren trunk, stems and branches, covering the tree with inflorescent exuberance. After the flowers fade, the beautiful heart-shaped leaves unfurl and create shade for the flora growing underneath.
I chose this cultivar to plant underneath the power lines as it is only supposed to grow approximately 10-12 feet tall. We shall see—here on the rainy side of the Pacific Northwest, many of our plants grow taller than what they are marked to reach. For now, the small tree is far enough away from the lines that it won't need major pruning even if it grows larger than noted. The redbud grows in a small garden on the street side of the fence—a perfect place where it grows comelier every year.
Chinese redbuds are excellent candidates for pollarding, which causes larger heart-shaped leaves. Unfortunately, pollarding will cause the loss of many flowers normally produced on old wood. C. 'Avondale' can be grown in containers as a focal point in the courtyard, or for its beautiful spring flowers and pretty, heart-shaped leaves. Overall, this tree is great in a small garden as a specimen tree, or as part of a border in a large garden.
This variety is more compact than the species, with the additional benefit of flowering at an earlier age. Some consider this one the showiest of all the redbuds, with the most abundant blooms. The tree tolerates drier conditions than the American species—eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis). Cercis chinensis is deer resistant, but results may vary as your herd may enjoy its taste.
Bottom photograph taken at the Oregon Garden in Silverton, Oregon. All other images photographed in author's garden.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton