'Covey' Weeping Redbud

(Cercis canadensis 'Covey')

Date Planted: October 2000

Family: Fabaceae

Hardiness: Marginally hardy in the Gorham, ME area; Zone 5-7

Mature Dimensions: 5 feet tall with an 8 foot width; trunk diameter 5 inches

Habit: Weeping; contorted stem with shoots give an umbrella-like habit; small but tree like

Bark: On mature trees, brownish-black bark is slightly furrowed so orange inner bark shows through

Buds: Terminal buds absent; lateral buds red-maroon, blunt, 1/8 inch in length and clustered. Flower buds are larger (1/4 inch) and more rounded

Leaves: Simple, alternate, heart shaped and broad; 3-5 inches by 3-5 inches, margin entire. New growth is reddish purple when emerging, dark green when mature, yellow in fall

Flowers: Perfect, reddish purple in bud, opening to a rosy pink with a lavender twist; ½ inch long, 4-8 flowers per raceme. Appear in Gorham in late April, before leafout

Fruit: Reddish-green pod 2-3 inches long ripens to brownish-black in October and persists through winter

Pests/Disease: Eastern tent caterpillar, gypsy moth, scale; canker

Reference:  Dirr M.1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Stipes Publishing Co., Champaign IL.