Cercis Chinensis - Evergreen Trees Direct

Cercis chinensis

$270.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 40cm/45L

40cm/45L 100L

Current Stock Height Guides

40cm/45L: 1.m – 1.4m Approx.
100L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 4m to 6m (approx.)

Mature Width: 4m to 6m

Cercis chinensis is expected to grow 15cm to 25cm per year (approx.).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Contact

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Cercis chinensis

Cercis chinensis, the Chinese Redbud, is a deciduous small tree or large multi stemmed shrub in the pea family. In early spring, clusters of bright rose pink flowers open directly on the bare wood, running along the branches and often on the trunk itself. Rounded heart shaped leaves follow and turn soft yellow in autumn.

Growth runs at 30 to 50 centimetres a year to a mature 3 to 5 metres tall and 3 to 4 metres wide. Full sun brings the heaviest flowering, though it accepts light afternoon shade. Frost hardy and reliable across Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney, it wants free draining soil and a deep soak in summer.

It suits courtyards, front gardens and civic beds where a small deciduous tree is needed, and it behaves near paving and services. Planted where morning light catches the flowers, it carries a garden through late winter into spring. Underplant with hellebores or bulbs that finish before the canopy closes over them.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Chinese Redbud

What is Cercis chinensis?

Cercis chinensis is a deciduous ornamental tree from China, grown for the rose pink pea flowers that cover its bare branches in early spring. It belongs to the legume family, Fabaceae, and often grows as a multi stemmed large shrub rather than a single trunked tree. The heart shaped leaves are a second attraction through summer and autumn.

When does Chinese Redbud flower?

Flowering starts in early spring, generally late August through September and into October depending on the district, with colder areas running later. The flowers open on bare wood before the leaves emerge, which is what makes the display so noticeable. Flowering lasts two to three weeks, after which the heart shaped foliage takes over.

How big does Chinese Redbud grow?

Around 3 to 5 metres tall and 3 to 4 metres wide at maturity, so it stays in small tree territory. Growth is roughly 30 to 50 centimetres a year. It is often grown as a multi stemmed form, which reads wider and lower, and a single leader can be trained early if you want a clear trunk.

Is Chinese Redbud evergreen or deciduous?

Deciduous. It drops its leaves through the colder months, which lets winter sun into the garden underneath, then flowers on the bare framework in early spring before the new foliage appears. Autumn colour is a soft butter yellow. If you need year round cover this is not the plant, as the bare season is part of what it offers.

Does Chinese Redbud need full sun?

Full sun gives the heaviest flowering and the best autumn colour. It will grow in part shade and tolerates a few hours of afternoon shade without complaint, but flowering thins noticeably in a genuinely shaded position. In hot inland gardens some protection from harsh western sun helps the foliage through summer.

Is Chinese Redbud frost tolerant?

Yes, it is frost hardy and takes heavy and repeated frost without damage once established. It performs well in Canberra, the Central Tablelands, Melbourne and the Adelaide Hills, and winter chill improves the spring flower display. Young trees are worth staking in exposed sites, as the wood is more brittle while the tree is small.

How do I prune and care for Chinese Redbud?

Water deeply through the first two summers and mulch out to the drip line. Prune only after flowering finishes, removing crossing or damaged wood. Heavy pruning at other times costs you next season's flowers, which form on older wood. Feed with a balanced fertiliser in early spring and keep the root zone free draining.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Feature Tree
Shade Tree
Council or Civic Landscapes
Plant in Pots (or) Suitable for Pots

Cercis chinensis works in an:

Cottage Garden – romantic mix of flowers, colour, and texture.
Woodland Garden – layered, naturalistic design under dappled light.
Heritage / Traditional Garden – timeless, classic plantings for period homes.

Is Cercis chinensis Evergreen or Deciduous?

Cercis chinensis is an Deciduous (Defoliates throughout colder months) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 4m to 6m (approx.)

Mature Width: 4m to 6m

Cercis chinensis is expected to grow 15cm to 25cm per year (approx.).

Growth Rate of Cercis chinensis

Cercis chinensis is expected to grow 15cm to 25cm per year (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Cercis chinensis

Is Cercis chinensis frost tolerant?

Cercis chinensis is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

Does Cercis chinensis Flower?

Cercis chinensis produces abundant clusters of vivid magenta-pink pea-shaped flowers along the bare branches in early spring, before the foliage emerges. These vibrant blooms create a spectacular early-season display and provide an important nectar source for pollinators coming out of winter.

Does Cercis chinensis flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

Pink

Is Cercis chinensis an Australian Native Tree?

No

Cercis chinensis is Native to China and eastern Asia, where it grows naturally in forest margins, hillsides, and along stream banks.

What is the Wildlife Value of Cercis chinensis ?

Its early flowers attract native bees, hoverflies and other spring-active pollinators, while the heart-shaped leaves and branching habit offer shelter for small birds. The seed pods that follow provide habitat and food for insects, helping to build a biodiverse garden ecosystem.

How much Sunlight does Cercis chinensis need?

Cercis chinensis will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Cercis chinensis performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions. It may struggle in heavy clay or poorly drained areas unless improved with organic matter to enhance aeration and drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, occasional watering as it matures to support strong flowering and vibrant seasonal growth.

Is Cercis chinensis Drought Tolerant?

Is Cercis chinensis Drought tolerant?

As a young tree it needs regular watering, but once established Cercis chinensis develops moderate drought tolerance. It performs best with deep, occasional watering during extended dry periods and benefits from some shelter from harsh afternoon sun to maintain leaf quality through summer.

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How To Plant Your Cercis chinensis

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Cercis chinensis

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Cercis chinensis is expected to grow 15cm to 25cm per year (approx.).

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Cercis chinensis

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, reduce to once weekly in dry periods. Mulch helps maintain consistent moisture.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection for psyllids or scale in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Cercis chinensis in Different Soil

Cercis Chinensis performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are the flowers of Cercis chinensis edible? Yes, they can be eaten raw or cooked and are often used in salads.
Is Cercis chinensis deer-resistant? While it isn't their favorite, deer might still nibble on it.