IME, redbuds are a smaller, native version of Bradford pear. They get to a certain size, then they liable to explode.

I love redbud trees. But the four I had were short-lived (< 5 years). Three split under the weight of snow and one was wiped out by an oak branch dropping on it. If I ever planted another one, I would hand pick a more mature tree with a strong central leader to avoid any shrubbiness which makes them more susceptible to splitting.

I've grown 2 redbuds. I like them a lot. The 1st tree died. I think the neighbor's may have killed it. The second tree grew too big so I cut it down. There's a new tree growing and I'd like to keep it, but only if I can prune it in such a way that it will allow a lot of light through it. I want to use it as shade for ephemerals, but not shading out the sun loving plants.

Redbuds are native here in WV--and when I moved here in the 70s we were a clear zone 5A. The coldest temperature I've ever been in was Christmas Eve 1982, I think, when it was 30 below zero. Not wind chill.

The key to a successful redbud in colder zones is to get one grown from northern seed. One grown from southern seed will not handle the cold. It's the genetic selection.

I have an Arbor Day seedling planted in the back acreage, and Lavender Twist near my front door. Both have been in the ground around 10 years, and have seen temps as low as -26 and snow with no issues. I wouldn't hesitate to plant again if they decide to go. (They are known as short lived trees though.)

Lav twist also that I've had for 15 yrs..no problems. Planted a tree that croaked after 3-4 years…so I thought. It came back as a shrub that I pruned up and now has become a beautiful large specimen. Also I planted a large sapling that I found had fallen over for unknown amount of time? Stuck it back in the ground and low a behold, Im now going to have another shrub! Proof they are one tough cookie :)

If you can find 'Northern Herald', it was selected from a population in South Dakota and is solidly hardy down to z4: https://jfschmidt.com/all-trees/trees/northern-herald-redbud/

See also this thread from 2 years ago: Redbud Advice

Based on my observations since then, I'd advise against Northern Herald (aka Pink Trim) - I've seen some unexplained dieback, and have spoken to two different growers who've experienced the same thing and said they would no longer grow this variety.

I don't believe winter hardiness is an issue in southern Michigan if the straight species of Cercis canadensis is used. Oh the photo gods have lifted my restrictions. BTW Porkchop my Blue Mistflowers take an eternity to bloom. I guess annual species of Ageratum is the way to go. I prefer my Redbud to be multi-trunked. I will have to study the art of crown thinning. After the removal of my last redbud, the ephemerals that grew in dappled or straight shade struggled. Especially my Blue Cohosh. Blue Mistflower would be better in a meadow or prairie. It's too agrivating to use as a stand out specimen.

Ooop...I asked this question before and obviously forgot about it. LOL! You can surmise I didn't get a redbud at that time. My plan is to go tree shopping this weekend, I need two replacement trees, hopefully I'll come home with something in the truck. What I gather from these two redbuds threads is overall they're well-liked, should be perfectly fine in my zone, and stay with the northern strains.

I will likely be dead or too old to care if the tree cr*ps out at 25 or 30 years, as long as I can get it established and it does well before that time comes I'm fine with it being "short lived".

lol porkchop, at least you waited two years to repost your question. There was something I posted about here, and then two MONTHS later posted again, completely forgetting I had posted the first time! It happens.

Let us know what comes home in the back of the truck!

:)

Dee

IME it depends on the original location of the seed source and the microclimate where it is planted. I have a couple of Minnesota strain redbuds, one in a cold pocket just north of Concord, NH in an area that has gotten to between -20 and -25 a few times since the tree was planted. It was planted somewhere around 2010, give or take a couple of years and has never had issues with snow or dieback. On the other hand, I worked near the NH seacoast (zone 6a) where a line of unknown source redbuds were planted in a relatively sheltered spot and they often had more dieback than my tree. Last I saw they were all 4 still surviving.

My other Minnesota strain I planted in my new house 4 years ago in Madison, Wisconsin, and it has not had any issues. My neighborhood has a number of redbuds that look fine, including a weeping one in a very sheltered spot. Madison is a bit warmer than my spot in NH.

My sister’s house had an established redbud that just didn’t leaf out one spring, but that may have been due to the rabbit burrow under it.

In both sites my trees have survived wet heavy snow that exploded bradford pears.

I specifically looked for Minnesota strain trees, grown from seeds of trees that survived at the arboretum in the Twin Cities. My memory is that this seed strain is grown by the wholesale Bailey Nurseries. I found both of my trees at good local nurseries.

I’m in z5 NY and I tried growing a redbud tree — it didn’t survive the fisrt winter, so I planted a replacement and that didn’t survive the winter so I gave up.

I planted three MN Strain about twenty years ago at my old place and they did well. As someone alluded to earlier, they are short-lived trees. I make a trip to the MN arb periodically and they are growing all over the place -- some planted and some spontaneous seedlings. Here's two planted Redbuds at the MN arb:

Update: I finally got one! I brought an eastern redbud home with me yesterday, along with another river birch (I have a deep-seated love of river birch). The redbud is not a named cultivar. Got them planted today.

Beautiful specimens, porkchop! Very nice indeed. Good luck with them. River birches are really quite beautiful.

:)

Dee