Cercis canadensis Midnight Express® (Eastern Redbud)

Cercis canadensis Midnight Express® is a cultivar of eastern redbud tree known for its attractive, midnight-purple foliage and striking early spring pink flowers. Early spring blooms open in striking shades of fuchsia and pink, and persist for several weeks, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, before its broad, heart-shaped leaves arrive in late Spring. Unlike other dark-leaved redbud varieties, Midnight Express® is a true purple cultivar, with striking red and purple foliage that lasts all year long and which contrasts beautifully with golden yellow hues in the autumn.

Typically found as a small understory tree or large multi-stemmed shrub, Cercis canadensis is slow growing, can easily reach heights of 20-30' tall with a spreading canopy up to 10-20' wide; while other purple varieties may grow much smaller, Midnight Express® is considered a full-size specimen tree. As an understory tree in the wild, Cercis canadensis Midnight Express® prefers full sun or partial shade in the home landscape, and prefers moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Like the parent species, this cultivar is also resistant to deer damage and tolerant of black walnut and clay soil types, and in addition, Cercis canadensis Midnight Express® offers better cold tolerance and denser growth habit than other common ornamental redbuds like 'Forest Pansy,' making it both a showy and hardy choice for the home landscape.