Growth Rate of Redbud Trees

Annual Growth

• The redbud tree (Cercis canadensis) is considered to possess a medium rate of growth which, according to the Arbor Day Foundation, denotes a tree that grows between 13 and 24 inches annually. It reaches an approximate height of between 20 and 30 feet with a spread of 25 to 35 feet. This flowering tree eventually matures into a spreading, rounded form and grows pink flowers in April with reddish-purple leaves that change to a dark green color, then yellow for fall.

Life Span

• Redbuds can be expected to grow between 7 and 10 feet in their first five or six years of life. However, the tree is relatively short-lived, often dying by the time it reaches 20 years of age. It achieves its best rate of growth and longest life in moist, well-drained locations; the redbud does not tolerate standing water well. The tree will thrive in acidic and alkaline soils and grows well in full sunshine, although partial shade is appreciated.

Hardiness

• The redbud's best rate of growth is found in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 through 9, an area that encompasses most of the U.S. aside from the extreme southern tips of Florida and Texas. The state tree of Oklahoma, the redbud produces a brown or black pod of seeds about 2 to 3 inches in length; birds especially enjoy the seeds in winter.

Considerations

• Because the tree grows over such a wide area, redbuds planted from seed outside of their specific geographic locale may find their rate of growth stunted. Trees planted in the South from seed harvested in Northern climates may not be able to withstand extreme heat and vice versa. Therefore, it is important to always use seed from a gardener's own home region. Additionally, trees that are transplanted have difficulty surviving if their root system has already developed.