I love Forest Pansy redbuds (Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’). It’s as if someone was admiring an Eastern redbud and thought “this is a great tree, but you know what would make it better? PURPLE LEAVES BABY!”
The leaves are what make a Forest Pansy redbud different from a regular ol’ native redbud. The leaves of a Forest Pansy redbud are a deep reddish-purple and still have that wonderful heart shape to them. As the summer wears on, the leaves fade a bit to a deep reddish-green. The fall color is nothing to sneeze at either! And, of course, don’t forget the beautiful spring blooms. As if you could.
Expect the Forest Pansy redbud to grow to 20-30 feet tall and wide, similar to the Eastern redbud. Recommendations for Forest Pansy are generally full sun to part shade, but it’s still an understory plant. I like to give mine a little relief from the sun, especially afternoon sun.