Trees / Redbud / Forest Pansy Redbud

Forest Pansy Redbud

Cercis canadensis

Forest Pansy is the purple redbud that started it all, and seventy-plus years later it is still the one people point at. Spring opens with lavender-pink flowers on bare branches, then the new heart-shaped leaves unfold a glossy, jewel-like red-purple that reads like stained glass with the sun behind it. Through summer the foliage deepens to a rich maroon-purple, cooling toward bronze-green in the hottest stretch, then warms into reddish-orange fall tones. It grows to a graceful 20 to 30 feet, takes clay, and thrives in full sun to part shade. As a specimen against a lawn or light wall, few small trees carry this much presence.

Fall colorSpring bloomsHandles clay soil
FamilyRedbud
TypeFlowering tree
Mature sizeSmaller, under 20 feet
SunFull sun to part shade
Growth rateMedium
SoilAdaptable, tolerates Missouri clay
Have us plant it and it's covered
  • Year One warranty included on every planted tree
  • Follow-up visits, deep root feeding, structural pruning
  • Picked and planted by a Board Certified Master Arborist
See sizes and planted pricing ↓Planting it yourself? No problem. Every tree has an off-the-lot price too, listed right below.

Sizes and pricing

Off-the-lot means you pick it up and plant it yourself. Planted means we deliver it, plant it right, and back it with our Year One warranty. Tap a price to add it to your list, then send the whole list to Matt in one request. Want several of one tree, or a mix? Add them all and Matt quotes the count.

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What does "gallon" mean? It is the size of the container the tree is growing in, not how many trees you get. The bigger the number, the bigger and more established the tree you take home, so a 30 gallon tree gives you shade and privacy years sooner than a 15 gallon one.

The Year One warranty

Planted by us? Then keeping it alive is our job.

Full warranty for one year after planting. This comes with any needed care and free check ups upon request. All needed treatments or pruning are included for first year. If tree fails to thrive, no cost replacement.

Planted right

Picked, delivered, and planted by a Board Certified Master Arborist.

We come back

Follow-up visits through the whole first year, not a wave goodbye.

Fed and pruned

Deep root feeding and structural pruning while it takes hold.

If it fails, we fix it

That is the warranty. No fine print, no chasing us down.

Want eyes on it longer? Year Two for 20 percent, Year Three for 15 percent of the planted price. Just say so in your quote.The sweet spot: most yards land at 15 to 30 gallon. Big the day it goes in, quick to take hold.Farther out? Ask for details if the project is more than 30 miles from Columbia.

Where it should go

Pick a spot with full sun to part shade. This one stays under 20 feet, so it fits close: 8 to 10 feet from the house, a patio, or a fence line. Heavy Missouri clay is not a problem for this tree. Growth rate is medium, so you know what to expect season to season.

Not sure about your spot? Send us a photo of the yard with your quote request and we will tell you straight if it will work.

The first year in the ground

Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season, and step it up in July and August heat. Keep a 2 to 3 inch mulch ring around the base, pulled back from the trunk. Spring and fall are both good planting windows in mid-Missouri.

Or skip the checklist: have us plant it and Year One covers all of this. We feed it, prune it, and come back to check on it.

Want this one in your yard?

Request a quote and tell us where it is going. We will confirm availability, delivery, and a planting date.

Quick questions

Straight answers to what people ask before they buy. Anything else, just call.

Call 573-424-5409
Forest Pansy or Burgundy Hearts, which purple redbud should I pick?

Forest Pansy is the classic: bigger jewel-toned spring color and a graceful, spreading habit. Burgundy Hearts is the newer selection chosen to hold its purple deeper into summer heat. In a cooler, partly shaded spot the two finish close. In a hot, open yard, Burgundy Hearts holds color longer while Forest Pansy drifts bronze-green late in the season.

Does Forest Pansy flower like a regular redbud?

Yes. The same lavender-pink pea flowers wrap the bare branches in early spring, and then the purple leaves take over the show. You get the full redbud spring plus a colored canopy after it.

Where does it grow best?

Morning sun with a little afternoon shade is the sweet spot: enough light for strong leaf color, enough relief to keep the foliage rich instead of tired. It handles our clay fine, and at 20 to 30 feet it works under lines, near patios, and as the front-yard signature tree.

Can I buy a tree without having you plant it?

Yes. Every tree on the lot has an off-the-lot price, you pick it up and plant it yourself. The planted price adds delivery, planting, and the Year One warranty.

What does the Year One warranty cover?

Every planted tree comes with follow-up visits, deep root feeding, and structural pruning through its first year. If the tree fails in Year One, we make it right. You can extend it to Year Two for 20 percent and Year Three for 15 percent of the planted price.

When is the best time to plant a tree in mid-Missouri?

Spring and fall are both good windows. Fall planting gives the roots time to settle in before summer heat. Request a quote and we will work out timing with you.

Do you sell to landscapers and tree services?

Yes. The whole lot is open to trade buyers. Ask about volume pricing when you reach out.

Not sure which tree is right for your yard?

Tell us the spot and the job. A Board Certified Master Arborist picks with you, plants it right, and stands behind it for Year One.

CallRequest this tree