Redbud, Hearts of Gold, Bare Root

Redbud ‘Hearts of Gold’ (Cercis canadensis ‘Hearts of Gold’)

A stunning cultivar of our native Eastern Redbud, Hearts of Gold lights up the spring landscape with brilliant golden foliage and classic pink-magenta blooms. This small deciduous tree combines high ornamental value with the wildlife benefits of its wild counterpart, attracting early-season pollinators and providing larval food for butterflies. With a compact, rounded shape and vibrant coloration, Hearts of Gold is ideal for small gardens, understory plantings, and permaculture designs where beauty and function meet.

Key Characteristics

• Early nectar source for native bees and pollinators
  Redbud flowers bloom in early spring before the leaves emerge, offering critical early nectar and pollen for native bees, including queen bumblebees just emerging from winter hibernation.
• Larval host plant for native butterflies
  Eastern Redbud serves as a host plant for the Henry’s Elfin (Callophrys henrici) butterfly. Its foliage supports the full life cycle of this native species, enriching habitat plantings and food forest understories.
• Brilliant golden foliage through the season
  Unlike wild-type redbuds, Hearts of Gold emerges with bright yellow-gold leaves that mature to chartreuse while holding their color well into summer, adding long-lasting interest and contrast in woodland edges and gardens.
• Compact and versatile for diverse plantings
  This cultivar maintains a more rounded, compact form—typically 15–20 feet tall—making it a perfect choice for smaller spaces, forest garden edges, or as an accent tree in permaculture designs and pollinator gardens.
• Edible and traditional uses
  Redbud flowers are edible, with a pleasantly tart flavor. They can be used fresh in salads or pickled. Indigenous communities have also used the bark and flowers in traditional medicine for ailments such as fevers and congestion.

Product Details

• Native range: Cultivar of native Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), native to eastern and central U.S.
• Plant life cycle: Deciduous Tree
• Sun requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil requirements: Medium; prefers well-drained soil but tolerates a range of conditions
• Mature height: 15–20 feet
• Bloom time: Early spring
• Bloom color: Magenta-pink
• USDA Hardiness zones: 5–9

Hearts of Gold brings together ecological function and visual brilliance. Use it to add early-season pollinator value and golden foliage to understory layers, edible landscapes, or small forest gardens.