Redbuds at UT Gardens, Knoxville

Scroll for more information about our redbud collection at the flagship location of the State Botanical Garden of Tennessee.

Whitney Hale

February 22, 2024

To use the map, scroll down the page. As you scroll, your next location and/or directions will appear. The numbered locations will also be circled on the map. When you finish the map tour, keep scrolling down this page to find more information about redbuds.

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Plaza

Welcome to UT Gardens! This tour begins at the Entrance Plaza. You will find the first redbud on the tour near the statue of Smokey.

Avondale Eastern Redbud

Near the entrance to UT Gardens, Knoxville, you can find Cercis chinensis 'Avondale'.

Hybrid Giant Redbud

Following the path into the Arboretum Walk from the Plaza, look to your right to see Cercis gigantea x chinensis.

You can continue downhill to see several other redbuds, notably near the Children's Garden and the Rain Garden. If you turn left at the sculpture, cross the small bridge and continue towards the Friendship Pavilion. Just past the pavilion will be #4.

Floating Clouds Redbud

Near the Friendship Pavilion, in Maria's Garden, you will find Cercis canadensis 'Floating Clouds'.

Interested in this cultivar? View the table below for more info.

Oklahoma Texas Redbud

Passing through the Torii Gate and turning right, you will find a pair of Cercis canadensis var. texensis 'Oklahoma'.

Ruby Falls Redbud

Following the path from 'Oklahoma', look to your right to see Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls'. It is located in the bend of the curved path.

Hearts of Gold Redbud

Following the path behind the Pavilion from 'Oklahoma' and 'Ruby Falls', you will come upon Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold' behind the Labyrinth.

Across from 'Hearts of Gold' is Cercis canadensis 'Little Woody' near Neyland Greenway.

Kay's Early Hope Redbud

From 'Hearts of Gold', return to the path and look left along Neyland Drive. Here you will see Cercis chinensis 'Kay's Early Hope'.

Carolina Sweetheart Redbud

Returning towards 'Oklahoma', continue into the Cornelia B. Holland Tranquility Hosta Garden. You will find Cercis canadensis 'Carolina Sweetheart' near the formal entrance to the Hosta Garden lawn area.

Flame Thrower Redbud

From 'Carolina Sweetheart', cross the wetland bridge and turn right. Along the mulch path you will see Cercis canadensis 'Flame Thrower' on your left.

The Rising Sun Redbud

From 'Flame Thrower', continue on the mulch path until you reach the Monarch Waystation. Turn right on the gravel into the Monarch Waystation near the interpretive signs. Cercis canadensis 'JN2' The Rising Sun® is located near the bike racks next to Third Creek and Neyland Greenways.

Monarch Waystation

Circle around the Monarch Waystation to see a couple more redbuds as you head back up into the Gardens. Pass through the Kitchen Garden and walk up the hill between the Rose Garden and Kitchen Garden. Keep going towards the South Greenhouse.

Don't forget, you can open the UT Gardens Map in Engage by Cell for real-time navigation assistance.

Whitewater Weeping Redbud

At the South Greenhouse, stay on the sidewalk to see the Teaching Garden. Cercis canadensis 'Whitewater' can be found weeping near the classroom windows.

Forest Pansy Redbud

Continuing down the sidewalk towards the parking lot, look for Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' just opposite the Rain Garden display bed.

Plaza

To return to the parking lot, either follow the sidewalk into the parking lot, or go back to the gravel path from the Environmental Landscape Lab. Take the gravel path to the Plaza and exit by the stock ponds.

We appreciate you visiting UT Gardens, Knoxville, and hope that you will come again soon!

Information about Redbuds:

Generally, redbuds grow well in well-drained, moist soil in partial shade. They are often found naturally in riparian zones that transition from woodland to less shaded waterfronts.

Redbud trees are in the Fabaceae family, which is evident by their seed pod that looks similar to a pod of peas hanging from the trees. As members of this family, they also fix nitrogen in the soil by using nodules on their roots.

Redbuds are known for their characteristic heart-shaped leaves that are present after flowering. The flowers appear in early spring and are often pinkish mauve to purple. A few cultivars have white flowers and, thus, have alba in their name.

Redbud trees support many kinds of wildlife. Their early blooming flowers support bees by providing some of the earliest food sources for them. The branches and leaves provide cover and shelter for many small birds as well.

Fun fact: The flowers of Cercis canadensis are edible and make a very sweet jelly! To some, the flowers taste a bit like tart grape candy.

Check out this video by Dr. Andy Pulte (@plantsleuth) on the Eastern redbud.

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) - Plant Identification

Redbuds at UT Gardens

Use the table below to find out information about the redbuds on display at UT Gardens, Knoxville.

Genus	Species	Cultivar	Common Name	Habit	General Info	Landscape ID Tip	Unique Qualities
Cercis	canadensis	'Whitewater'	Whitewater Weeping Redbud	Rounded/Weeping	6' tall x 2-3' wide, full sun to partial shade, average to moist soil,	Deep rose flowers in April/May, weeping habit	White flecks on leaves look like someone has applied a paint splatter to leaves
Cercis	canadensis	'Forest Pansy'	Forest Pansy Eastern Redbud	Rounded/Vase	20-30' tall x 25-35' wide, full sun to partial shade, will tolerate heavy clay soils, good drainage necessary	Purple, heart shaped foliage	Can be planted near Black Walnut Trees
Cercis	canadensis var. texensis	'Oklahoma'	Oklahoma Texas Redbud	Multi-trunked/ Rounded	12-18' tall x 15-20' wide, full sun to partial shade, any type of soil, does not transplant well	Thick, glossy foliage	Royal Purple flowers
Cercis	chinensis	'Avondale'	Avondale Eastern Redbud	Compact	10-12' tall and wide, full sun to part shade, median water requirements	Profuse bloomer with longer seed pods than straight species	Rose-purple flowers, not as brilliant fall color
Cercis	gigantea x chinensis	N/A	Hybrid Giant Redbud	Arching/ Rounded	23-30' tall and wide, prefers chalky soil, good drainage	Foliage is 6-8" long	Foliage is quite large and leathery
Cercis	mexicana	N/A	Mexican Redbud	Dense/ Rounded/ Spreading	11-15' tall and wide, can perform in shallow rocky areas, can handle good drainage that gets quite dry	"the leaf blade of var. mexicana exhibits an undulate margin "	Showy pea-like flowers
Cercis	canadensis	'Hearts of Gold'	Hearts of Gold Eastern Redbud	Erect/Rounded/Spreading	20-25 ft tall and 25-35 ft wide; gold-colored heart-shaped leaves in spring	Will bloom on 1st year wood, instead of 2nd year wood like other Cercis	New foliage starts pale orange and transitions to gold then green throughout the season. In full sun the leaves maintain their color into summer and then change to chartreuse. In part shade, the leaves will be a greener chartreuse.
Cercis	canadensis	'Ruby Falls'	Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud	Arching/ Cascading/ Rounded/ Weeping	well drained soil, full to partial shade	Red foliage changes to green during summer	Unique weeping habit and foliage color
Cercis	canadensis	'Flame Thrower'	Flame Thrower Redbud	Upright with slight drooping	15-20ft tall; 10-15 ft wide	Has colorful leaves throughout growing season	Leaves start purple-red and transition through many shades until green; many flowers in early spring

Redbud information continued...

Genus	Species	Cultivar	Common Name	Habit	General Info	Landscape ID Tip	Unique Qualities
Cercis	canadensis	'Floating Clouds'	Floating Clouds Eastern Redbud	Weeping	20-30 ft tall; partial shade	Foliage has splotches of white/pale green to green	Variagated foliage
Cercis	canadensis	'NCCC1'	Carolina Sweetheart® Eastern Redbud	Multi-trunked/ Rounded	20-30ft tall; multi-trunked; rounded	Foliage begins purple and transitions to pink, white, and green	Colorful foliage that is often pink or purple early in the season
Cercis	canadensis	'JN2'	The Rising Sun™ Eastern Redbud	Upright; single trunk	8-12ft tall with 12-15ft spread	New foliage is pale orange	New foliage starts pale orange and transitions to gold then green throughout the season
Cercis	chinensis	'Kay's Early Hope'	Kay's Early Hope Redbud	Multi-trunked	12-15ft tall	Multi-trunked, many flowers tightly packed along branches when in bloom	Long bloom time (most of March and April)
Cercis	canadensis	'Little Woody'	Little Woody Redbud	Dwarf, vase-shaped	10-12ft tall; 8-10ft wide	Dwarf size, tiny flowers along with smaller leaves; yellow leaf color in fall	No pruning required to maintain shape; smaller form

Tip: Scientific names are written like this: Genus species 'Cultivar'.

Images of Redbuds in the UT Gardens | Photo credit Whitney Hale

The mission of the UT Gardens is to inspire, educate, and cultivate an appreciation of plants through horticultural displays, educational programs, and research

Please note that the UT Gardens is a living collection that is continuously changing. We will do our best to keep this page up to date, but it is possible that not every plant in this collection is showcased on this story map and that we have plants here that may not still be in the Gardens.

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