Cercis chinensis – Avondale

Description

Cercis chinensis ‘Avondale’ – Chinese Redbud

Compact Ornamental Tree with Abundant Magenta Flowers and Heart-Shaped Leaves

Botanical Name: Cercis chinensis ‘Avondale’

Common Name: Avondale Chinese Redbud

Origin: China; cultivar selected in New Zealand

 

Description:

Cercis ‘Avondale’ is a compact, deciduous ornamental tree prized for its spectacular floral display, distinctive heart-shaped foliage, and manageable size – making it ideal for small gardens or feature planting. This cultivar is a selection of the Chinese Redbud, noted for its heavy flowering habit and neat, upright form.

In early to mid-spring, before the foliage emerges, ‘Avondale’ bursts into bloom with masses of deep magenta to rosy purple pea-like flowers that line its bare branches and even its main trunk. This prolific flowering sets it apart from many other Cercis cultivars. The flowers are followed by lush, glossy, heart-shaped green leaves that provide a fresh, clean look throughout the growing season and transition to soft yellow tones in autumn.

The tree has a naturally rounded, multi-stemmed form and a slow to moderate growth rate, making it easy to manage in smaller landscape spaces, courtyards, and ornamental gardens.

Specifications:

• Mature Height: 3 – 4 metres

• Mature Width: 2.5 – 3 metres

• Growth Habit: Upright, multi-stemmed, rounded canopy

• Foliage: Deciduous – rich green, heart-shaped leaves turning yellow in autumn

• Flowering Time: Early to mid-spring (August–September)

• Flowers: Profuse magenta to purple pea-like blooms along bare branches

• Fruit: Flattened seed pods may form after flowering (ornamental)

Position & Uses:

• Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade (best flowering in full sun)

• Soil Preferences: Well-drained, fertile soil with moderate moisture; avoid waterlogged sites

Landscape Uses:

◦ Feature tree in small gardens

◦ Courtyards and patios

◦ Understory planting or mixed ornamental beds

◦ Woodland or Japanese-style gardens

Care & Maintenance:

• Low maintenance once established

• Light pruning after flowering to shape if necessary

• Mulch annually to retain soil moisture and reduce competition

• Drought-tolerant once established, though regular water promotes best flowering

Climate Suitability:

• Performs well in cool to temperate climates

• Tolerates frost

• Protect from strong winds and extreme heat when young

Key Features:

• Heavy, early-spring floral display before leaves emerge

• Compact size perfect for urban or residential landscapes

• Heart-shaped foliage and tidy form

• Excellent specimen tree with year-round visual appeal

Enhance your garden with the vibrant, compact beauty of Cercis ‘Avondale’, now available at Blerick Tree Farm – the perfect choice for bold spring colour in a manageable, elegant form.