Growing Oklahoma Redbud: How To Plant An Oklahoma Redbud Tree

Oklahoma redbud trees are small, charming trees native to the Southwest, including Oklahoma and Texas. These redbuds offer dramatic spring blossoms, purple seedpods, and shiny foliage. If you are considering growing Oklahoma redbud trees, read on.

About Oklahoma Redbud Trees

Oklahoma redbud (Cercis reniformis ‘Oklahoma’) are lovely, little landscape trees. Like many other redbuds, their pea-like flowers are a deep, brilliant pink and appear in spring before the leaves. They develop into attractive purple pods as long as your hand that persist on the tree into autumn. Their glossy leaves are also very ornamental.

The trees make eye-catching additions to backyards or woodland gardens and also support wildlife. Bees love the nectar from the bright blossoms and birds come to eat the resulting seed pods.

How to Plant Oklahoma Redbud

If you live in a mild region, you might think of growing Oklahoma redbud. These trees thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. When it’s time to pick a spot for planting, select a site that gets some sun. Oklahoma redbud trees will grow in partial shade or full, direct sun. They tolerate clay soil but do best in moist, well-drained soil. 

Oklahoma redbud planting is not a one-day and done job. In order to help your trees look great and stay strong, maintenance care is required. Pruning is one of the big parts of Oklahoma redbud tree care. This is something to undertake carefully since the tree bark is thin and you can easily damage it.

Oklahoma redbud tree branches have a low branching habit and the limbs tend to droop as the tree grows. If you expect to drive or walk under the canopy, pruning is essential. Their natural shape (a graceful, multi-trunked habit) is perfect if you plant them in a location where access is not required.

In any event, you’ll need to prune the tree while it is young to help it develop a strong structure. Avoid weak branch forks by reducing the size of lateral branches. You should also prune out branches that form a “V-shaped” crotch.