Plant of the Week: Redbud ‘The Rising Sun’

Redbud ‘The Rising Sun’ is a powerhouse performer all year long. This small tree has multi-season interest for the whole landscape. It grows in full sun to part shade. Plant it next to the house, under power lines, or in a grouping of 3 or more in the middle of the lawn. Redbuds are native to the United States, from Texas to Canada and from New York to the Rockies. They fit into a wide range of soil types and weather extremes.

Plant Description

Redbud ‘The Rising Sun’ is a smaller tree than the typical wild one. It grows 15 feet tall and wide. It grows where many other trees will not. Its new growth is orange to yellow, giving it its name. Redbuds are known for their spring flowers and this one is no exception. It has bright purple-pink flowers in mid spring, that are attractive to honeybees and other pollinators.

Redbuds have many great attributes. The textured bark is dark brown and scaly. Fall color is yellow to brownish-yellow.

Where to Buy Redbud ‘The Rising Sun’

Our garden store is located centrally between Hiawatha, KS, Sabetha, KS, and Falls City, NE. The address is 2991 Goldfinch Road, Hiawatha, KS. We also have an online retail center. Check out our selection at our webstore.

Redbud Problems

Redbuds are not prone to a lot of pests and diseases, but are host plants for a variety of moths and butterflies, including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly and the Emperial Moth. If planted in too wet a location, it may develop some powdery mildew, but not enough to cause damage to the tree.

Redbud leaffolder moths can also cause some aesthetic damage. These caterpillars roll the leaves of the tree to protect themselves while feeding. They do not cause enough damage to weaken the tree. I have also seen leaf-miner on the leaves.

Where to Plant Redbuds

Redbuds are best planted as understory trees or in groups of 3 to 7. It has been discovered that trees do better when planted in large groupings, not individually in an open lawn or field. ‘The Rising Sun’ redbud does very well planted near a house that has a dark exterior, or as an understory tree in a shade garden.

How to Plant a Redbud

When you get your tree from Grimm’s Gardens, it will be in a white, fabric grow bag. These cloth bags promote better root health and prevent the roots from circling and choking the tree.

Remove the grow bag by using a knife to cut the bag vertically on two sides, then rip the bag from the root ball by force. This will not damage the roots; it prepares them for planting.

Dig the hole to the depth of the root ball and just slightly wider than the root ball. Place the tree into the hole and use the excavated soil to fill in around the root ball. Make sure the trunk is straight as you fill the soil in.

How to Water Your Redbud After Planting

Newly planted trees need to be watered daily for a few weeks after planting. After you have your tree in the hole, use a garden hose to water it in. Stick the hose into the bottom of the hole from the side, and turn on the water. This will help the soil to settle around the root ball and prevent air pockets.

Once the water starts bubbling up out of the hole, move the hose to the other side of the hole and repeat the above step. Turn off the hose and spread soil into the hole where it has settled, until it is at the original soil level.

Water your tree once daily with a hose on a trickle for 10 minutes. Do this everyday for 2 weeks when the temperatures are 65 degrees or hotter. After 2 weeks, cut watering back to every 3 days; do this for 2 more weeks.

After 2 weeks of watering every 3rd day, cut back to 1 time per week for the rest of the year (through January if the temperatures are above 40 degrees and there is no snow or rainfall). If you get significant rainfall (1″ per day or week) at anytime during the year, do not water during those weeks.

Plant a redbud ‘The Rising Sun‘ in your landscape today by calling Grimm’s Gardens!