Gardening Observation:
A Tale of Two Redbuds - The eastern redbud tree, Cercis canandensis, is one of my favorites for its profusion of pink, branch hugging blossoms in the early spring. The redbud on the left was photographed by me in Joliet, Illinois on May 1, 2011. It is small - only pehaps seven feet tall. The one on the right was also taken by me in San Diego on Feb. 4, 2012.
I only recently learned that redbuds can be grown in warm climates like San Diego. The Sunset Western Garden Book lists it for all zones in the U.S. including the hot desert if given some shade. I do not not recall ever seeing one in Phoenix however during the time I lived and worked there.
In the Midwest there is hardly a more charming small to medium tree. It has a profusion of flowers in late April in the Chicago area. It grows 30 ft. (10 m) tall and as wide. When grown as an "understory" tree beneath taller varieties it has a fairy land look when in bloom. If you live in Joliet drive by the home at the corner of Westridge Rd. and Timbercrest Dr. in late April and you will see what I mean. This subdivision is south of Black Rd. across from the Rock Run Forest Preserve near I-55.
A drive along I-94 in southern Michigan between Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor in late April is sure to please. There are hundreds of naturally growing redbuds where the forest meets a clearing beside the road.
Unfortunately, redbuds have a higher than average rate of dying when first planted. Many do not bloom or leaf out the first spring after planting. For this reason we were reluctant to plant them when we were in the landscaping business in that area. They need rich soil and do poorly in the heavy clay found in many subdivisions.
Which brings me to the San Diego specimen shown above. It was planted late last spring in the newly installed median garden in Thorn St. in the Altadena neighborhood in North Park. I believe it is the 'Forest Pansy' variety. For neighborhood beautification the pavement was removed in this wide stretch of Thorn St. and a block-long garden median installed. It is a nice addition to this neighborhood where I live. Five redbuds were planted. Only the one shown shows any outward signs of life now.
I wonder if redbuds were an appropriate choice for this location. Perhaps crepe myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica, would have been better. The Sunset Western Garden Book does not list it for Zone 24 where I live but there are many that thrive nearby and throughout San Diego. I don't know why Sunset does not list it for Zone 24.
As a garden lover I find it interesting that to redbuds at least spring comes to San Diego twelve week earlier than it does to the far southwestern suburbs of Chicago.
A Tale of Two Redbuds - The eastern redbud tree, Cercis canandensis, is one of my favorites for its profusion of pink, branch hugging blossoms in the early spring. The redbud on the left was photographed by me in Joliet, Illinois on May 1, 2011. It is small - only pehaps seven feet tall. The one on the right was also taken by me in San Diego on Feb. 4, 2012.
I only recently learned that redbuds can be grown in warm climates like San Diego. The Sunset Western Garden Book lists it for all zones in the U.S. including the hot desert if given some shade. I do not not recall ever seeing one in Phoenix however during the time I lived and worked there.
In the Midwest there is hardly a more charming small to medium tree. It has a profusion of flowers in late April in the Chicago area. It grows 30 ft. (10 m) tall and as wide. When grown as an "understory" tree beneath taller varieties it has a fairy land look when in bloom. If you live in Joliet drive by the home at the corner of Westridge Rd. and Timbercrest Dr. in late April and you will see what I mean. This subdivision is south of Black Rd. across from the Rock Run Forest Preserve near I-55.
A drive along I-94 in southern Michigan between Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor in late April is sure to please. There are hundreds of naturally growing redbuds where the forest meets a clearing beside the road.
Unfortunately, redbuds have a higher than average rate of dying when first planted. Many do not bloom or leaf out the first spring after planting. For this reason we were reluctant to plant them when we were in the landscaping business in that area. They need rich soil and do poorly in the heavy clay found in many subdivisions.
Which brings me to the San Diego specimen shown above. It was planted late last spring in the newly installed median garden in Thorn St. in the Altadena neighborhood in North Park. I believe it is the 'Forest Pansy' variety. For neighborhood beautification the pavement was removed in this wide stretch of Thorn St. and a block-long garden median installed. It is a nice addition to this neighborhood where I live. Five redbuds were planted. Only the one shown shows any outward signs of life now.
I wonder if redbuds were an appropriate choice for this location. Perhaps crepe myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica, would have been better. The Sunset Western Garden Book does not list it for Zone 24 where I live but there are many that thrive nearby and throughout San Diego. I don't know why Sunset does not list it for Zone 24.
As a garden lover I find it interesting that to redbuds at least spring comes to San Diego twelve week earlier than it does to the far southwestern suburbs of Chicago.
