Rise 'N Shine™ Redbud
Cercis canadensis 'JN31' PPAF
Mature Height: 20-25 ft.
Mature Spread: 15-20 ft.
Couldn't load pickup availability
Shipping
| Bloom Color: | Purple |
| Bloom Period: | Early spring |
| Fall Color: | Gold, with shades of yellow, green and orange |
| Foliage Color: | New growth emerges orange and transitions from orange to golden green |
| Genus & Species: | Cercis canadensis 'JN31' PPAF |
| Growth Rate: | Moderate |
| Mature Height: | 20-25 ft. |
| Mature Spread: | 15-20 ft. |
| Soil Type: | Adaptable to many soil types, including wet soil, but prefers moist, but well draining soil that is rich in organic matter |
| Sun Exposure: | Full sun, partial sun, partial shade |
| Zone: | 5 to 9 |
Rise 'N Shine™ is an eastern redbud you buy for the leaves as much as the flowers. New growth comes in bright yellow-gold in late spring, settles to chartreuse green through the heat of summer, and colors up again in fall. It's a cultivar of our native eastern redbud, so it works in a native planting as easily as a front-yard bed.
Like every redbud, it blooms before it leafs out. Clusters of small lavender-purple flowers line the bare branches in early spring, and the gold heart-shaped leaves follow right behind. Because the tree keeps pushing new growth through the season, you'll often see fresh gold leaves sitting against older chartreuse ones on the same branch. Fall color leans orange.
At 20 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide, this is a full-sized redbud, noticeably bigger than its cousin The Rising Sun™, which stays closer to 8 to 12 feet. Choose Rise 'N Shine™ when you want a specimen or yard tree to anchor a space, and Rising Sun when the spot is a tight bed or border. The gold foliage shows best against solid deep greens, purples, or pinks, and against dark mulch or hardscaping. Avoid other variegated plants nearby, which muddy the effect.
Give it full sun to part shade. In hot summers, afternoon shade helps. It wants well-drained soil rich in organic matter and won't tolerate standing water. Compacted soil causes more trouble for redbuds than soil type does, so dig wide and mulch well. The color comes from new growth, so a slow-release fertilizer each spring pays off directly in how the tree looks. We ship redbuds bare root and dormant, which means your first job is getting roots established. Plant as soon as it arrives and follow our tree planting guide, which is also what qualifies your tree for our warranty. If you're in zone 5b or colder and ordering in fall, we can hold your tree in our cooler and ship it in early March instead.
Rise 'N Shine™ was introduced through Garden Debut®, Greenleaf Nursery's introduction program. Discovered by Ray and Cindy Jackson of Jackson Nursery, Belvidere, Tennessee.
References
- Garden Debut, Rise 'N Shine™ Redbud: https://www.gardendebut.com/plant/Rise-N-Shine
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Cercis canadensis 'JN2' The Rising Sun: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=257370
General care for any tree or shrub is easy, but like any living thing will require your attention. Please educate yourself and follow these simple rules.
Rise 'N Shine™ Redbud
Soil quality and how to plant the Rise and Shine Redbud
The Rise and Shine, like most redbud trees prefers consistently moist soil that is rich in organic matter, but can do well in a wide range of soils. Soil compaction will restrict growth and should be addressed by digging as large a hole as possible. We recommend a minimum of 3x3 ft. and digging at least 18 inches deep to break up the soil. Remove the grass, but retain as much of the original soil from the grass clumps as possible. A higher quality soil can be supplemented, but use no more than a 30% new to 70% original soil ratio. Too much new soil can cause water to pool in the hole, which will drown and kill the plant. With redbuds, mulching is extremely important (especially in the early years) as it suppresses grass and weeds, retains moisture, improves soil quality and reduces the chances of compaction from foot or mower traffic. For more specific details on how to plant see our guide.
When to fertilize the Rise and Shine Redbud
The Rise and Shine depends on new growth for it to maintain it's spectacular appearance, so fertilizer is recommended for optimal growth. A soil test is recommend for accurate fertilization, but a general NPK + micronutrients slow release fertilizer will cover the basis if a test is not performed. We recommend a 10-11 month slow release fertilizer be applied each year as a top dress in the mulch around the growing area. Apply this fertilizer prior to spring, so that the tree has access to nutrients in the spring and fall growing periods.
How and when to prune the Rise and Shine Redbud
Pruning can be a challenge for new gardeners, so unless you are experienced, we recommend limiting pruning to a few branches each season. Pruning can be done during the winter months, but will rob you of the newest blooms. Pruning can also be done in late spring, after the blooms fade. Try to focus on branches that cross into the tree or create a steep V as these can create rubs, restrain growth on the central leader, and lead to breakage. Prune branches that are lower to the the ground to allow for space under the tree for mowing and and a more tree-like appearance. Most redbuds will grow shoots around the base of the tree, trim these back as low to the ground as possible each season. I've seen shoots grow almost to the size of a small tree within a few months, so get them as early as you can. When pruning take care to prune branches when they are as small as possible and take no more than 1/3 of the branches from a tree in one season.
