A Flame Thrower redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘NC2016-2’, below) in the damp lower rear garden was lost a few years ago. I should’ve known better that the soil was too moist, and after thriving in a dry summer I could see that it was stressed in a damp autumn. The redbud did not leaf out in the spring.

Years ago, I joked to friends inquiring about a leafless tree that on occasion a tree will skip a year. Of course, they believed me, at least for a few seconds, but I wasn’t fooled. The ‘Flame Thrower’ was dead, and there was no use planting another in its place.

But, there was no other place, so I did without until the Bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) blew over in a storm a year ago. Now, there was a part sun location with plenty of room for a redbud, and more. So, I planted another, a nice eight footer. It barely survived an extended drought with several branches lost before I realized that it just wasn’t going to rain. This spring it flowered, and it has leafed fully enough that the lost branches aren’t noticed.

While redbuds’ early flowers are exceptional, opening in late March just as the early magnolias are fading, the colored foliage is even better. And, not just Flame Thrower.

Carolina Sweetheart (Cercis canadensis ‘NCCC1’, above) is not quite as flamboyantly colorful as Flame Thrower, but it will light up its shaded spot along the driveway. A year ago, in its first spring leaves remained a faded purple, but I expect more color this year.

The variegated Whitewater’ weeping redbud (above) remained disappointedly green its first year in the garden, but a year ago it colored splendidly, though leaves emerged green and added white variegation through the spring. This spring it is growing vigorously despite losing emerging leaves in a mid-spring freeze. Today, there’s no evidence of the damage.

Two other weeping redbuds with colorful leaves are treasured additions to the garden. The yellow-leafed Golden Falls (Cercis canadensis ‘NC2015-12, above) and purple-leafed ‘Ruby Falls’ (below) both grow with uncommon vigor, but surprisingly, their habit is not wide spreading as branches weep abruptly down rather than arching. I must prune branches of Golden Falls that now creep along the ground.

Two recent redbud additions, ‘Little Woody’ and ‘Zig Zag’ are a year away from making much of a show. ‘Zig Zag’ has distinctive branches perfectly described by its name, and both have green leaves along with several other redbuds in the garden valued for their flowers. All the redbuds are prized, but several more for foliage than flower.