Students for Stewardship The Cork Board
← Back to the library

Cercis Canadensis Pink Pom Poms

Cercis canadensis (SER-sis kan-a-DEN-sis)

Family: Fabaceae Unknown Understory (15-40 ft)

'Pink Pom Poms' is a cultivar of the native redbud tree in the Fabaceae (bean) family. It is a naturally occurring cross of 'Flame' and possibly ‘Oklahoma’ found by Mr. Alex Neubauer of Hidden Hollow Nursery in Belvidere, TN. The seeds were sent to Dennis J. Werner, North Carolina State University for testing and development in 2005. Redbuds will grow in full sun to part shade, are pH tolerant and do well in moist average well-draining soils. Redbuds in general do not transplant well so choose your site carefully. This tree will grow to 13 feet tall and wide and possibly to 20 feet tall over time. 'Pink Pom Poms' produces a prolific amount of double reddish-purple sterile female flowers in the spring before leaf-out. The heart-shaped leaves are smaller, thicker, and glossier than those of ‘Flame’ and maintain an attractive appearance well into the growing season. Use as a specimen, accent, understory tree or mass plant for a delightful spring show of blooms. Great for small yards. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect pests include leafhoppers, caterpillars, borers, Japanese beetles, treehoppers, scale, and webworms. Possible diseases include canker, dieback, leaf spots, verticillium wilt, blights, and mildew. It can be a short-lived tree, typically living less than 75 years. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Cercis canadensis .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 56 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 2 - Understory (15-40 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Cercis canadensis Cercis canadensis Flame Thrower® 'NC2016-2' Stewartia malacodendron

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 13 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 13 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Multi-trunked
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Simple, alternate heart-shaped leaves, 3 to 5 inches long and wide, with smooth, entire margins. Bases are cordate, acute apex, with swelling on petioles just underneath the leaf plate. 7 palmate veins extend from the leaf base. New growth has a reddish tint. Attractive yellow fall color.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Funnel
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Fully double reddish-purple sterile female flowers in clusters grow directly on new and old stems before leaves emerge. The clusters resemble pom poms.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit detail
No fruits
Bark color
Black; Dark Brown; Orange
Bark detail
Dark brown to black with orange inner bark that can be visible. Smooth when young, but developing long, narrow plates that separate into scales as the tree matures.
Stem color
Black; Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Slender, glabrous, dark reddish brown to black, zig-zag, spreading and ascending.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
12 species of Lepidoptera use this tree as a larval host plant. Host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly.
Attracts
Butterflies
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Patio; Woodland
Landscape theme
Children's Garden; Cottage Garden
Design feature
Accent; Flowering Tree; Mass Planting; Specimen; Understory Tree
Garden tags
#partial shade tolerant #understory tree #showy flowers #specimen #deciduous tree #full sun #spring flowers #host plant #fall interest #pink flowers #nci #showstopper #small tree #mass planting #accent
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Soft Scale Identification and Management on Ornamental Plants; Caterpillars That Feed on Trees and Shrubs; Japanese Beetle
Resistant to
Deer

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.

📍 Add a planting 📝 Add to wish list