Purple (Rich purple foliage emerges in the spring and gradually fades to a deep green-purple by the end of the summer); Red-Violet (The fall color can be variable, but can range from purple to red to orange)

Stem Notes:

Red (red/burgundy, often multi-trunked)

Fruit Notes:

Green (Flattened green seed pods that eventually mature to brown in late summer)

Ultimate Height:

20-30 feet

Ultimate Spread:

25-35 feet

Bloom Times:

April 198

Fruiting Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Prefers moist, well-drained, deep soils, but quite tolerant

Range:

Cultivated origin

Maintenance:

Low 274

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Purplish, cordate (heart-shaped), 3-5" long and wide leaves are alternate and simple, with conspicuous swelling (pulvinus) just below the blade. Stems form a zig-zag pattern. Flowers are small (0.5" long), pinkish-purple, pea-like, and occur slightly later in the spring than the species type. Bark on older mature trees can be an attractive brownish-black with orange inner bark showing through.

Ecological Functions:

Purdue Plant Doctor

Parts and Problems of Redbud

Special Characteristics:

Tolerant of Poor Site Conditions 187

Notable Bark 168

Notable Texture 282

Additional Information

'Forest Pansy' is a unique and attractive cultivar that has deep purple foliage, which generally fades to a dark, lustrous green in late summer or under drought conditions. Beautiful rose-purple flowers smother the branches in the spring. A fine small tree that is relatively trouble-free and drought-resistant. Requires some protection from the sun in hotter climates, however flowering decreases with deep shade. Canker, leaf spot, and verticillium wilt can be problematic for older trees, or trees weakened by other environmental stresses. Long tap root means that older plants transplant poorly.

Plant Photo Gallery

Overall Tree in Summer

Leaf

Spring Flowers

Fruit Pods

Bark

Buds

Winter Habit

When Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Week 1 flowering not present	Week 2 flowering not present	Week 3 flowering not present	Week 4 flowering not present	Week 5 flowering not present	Week 6 flowering not present	Week 7 flowering not present	Week 8 flowering not present	Week 9 flowering not present	Week 10 flowering not present	Week 11 flowering not present	Week 12 flowering not present	Week 13 flowering not present	Week 14 flowering not present	Week 15 flowering present	Week 16 flowering present	Week 17 flowering present	Week 18 flowering present	Week 19 flowering present	Week 20 flowering not present	Week 21 flowering not present	Week 22 flowering not present	Week 23 flowering not present	Week 24 flowering not present	Week 25 flowering not present	Week 26 flowering not present	Week 27 flowering not present	Week 28 flowering not present	Week 29 flowering not present	Week 30 flowering not present	Week 31 flowering not present	Week 32 flowering not present	Week 33 flowering not present	Week 34 flowering not present	Week 35 flowering not present	Week 36 flowering not present	Week 37 flowering not present	Week 38 flowering not present	Week 39 flowering not present	Week 40 flowering not present	Week 41 flowering not present	Week 42 flowering not present	Week 43 flowering not present	Week 44 flowering not present	Week 45 flowering not present	Week 46 flowering not present	Week 47 flowering not present	Week 48 flowering not present	Week 49 flowering not present	Week 50 flowering not present	Week 51 flowering not present	Week 52 flowering not present

Fruiting

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Week 1 fruiting not present	Week 2 fruiting not present	Week 3 fruiting not present	Week 4 fruiting not present	Week 5 fruiting not present	Week 6 fruiting not present	Week 7 fruiting not present	Week 8 fruiting not present	Week 9 fruiting not present	Week 10 fruiting not present	Week 11 fruiting not present	Week 12 fruiting not present	Week 13 fruiting not present	Week 14 fruiting not present	Week 15 fruiting not present	Week 16 fruiting not present	Week 17 fruiting not present	Week 18 fruiting not present	Week 19 fruiting not present	Week 20 fruiting not present	Week 21 fruiting not present	Week 22 fruiting not present	Week 23 fruiting present	Week 24 fruiting not present	Week 25 fruiting not present	Week 26 fruiting present	Week 27 fruiting present	Week 28 fruiting present	Week 29 fruiting present	Week 30 fruiting present	Week 31 fruiting present	Week 32 fruiting not present	Week 33 fruiting not present	Week 34 fruiting not present	Week 35 fruiting not present	Week 36 fruiting present	Week 37 fruiting present	Week 38 fruiting present	Week 39 fruiting not present	Week 40 fruiting not present	Week 41 fruiting not present	Week 42 fruiting not present	Week 43 fruiting not present	Week 44 fruiting present	Week 45 fruiting not present	Week 46 fruiting not present	Week 47 fruiting not present	Week 48 fruiting not present	Week 49 fruiting not present	Week 50 fruiting not present	Week 51 fruiting not present	Week 52 fruiting not present

18 Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	ORIG_9800*A	WSLR
2	ORIG_9798*A	WSLR
3	2022_00399*A	STADMALL
4	2022_00384*A	STADMALL
5	2022_00393*A	STADMALL
6	2022_00406*A	STADMALL
7	2022_00405*A	STADMALL
8	2022_00394*A	STADMALL
9	2022_00404*A	STADMALL
10	2023_00224*A	MRPK
11	2023_00224*B	MRPK
12	2023_00257*A	HERL
13	2023_00257*B	HERL
14	2023_00257*C	HERL
15	2023_00257*E	MJIS
16	2023_00257*F	HOCK
17	2023_00257*G	HOCK
18	2023_00257*H	HOCK