Sometime in late 2021/early 2022, a photo was sent to me via text. The message read "Greenleaf has these but they haven't decided on a name yet." For 2022 and 2023 the photo of this tree was the background on my desktop. I was counting down the days for its release into the market. In the spring of 2024, I called my Greenleaf sales rep to check in on the status of this unnamed Redbud and gave her the best description I could muster.
She didn't know what I was describing and thought I was confusing Flame Thower Redbud. I removed the photo from my desktop in April and gave up. Fast forward to last Monday, September 9th. I opened Greenleaf's weekly list of plants ready for sale and there it was! Hearts A' Fire!
I quickly turned in my order and they arrived this morning, September 13th, 2024 after almost 2 years of waiting! I'm now vibrating with excitement (or I drank my coffee way too fast, or both) to offer the first release of this new Eastern Redbud cultivar!
Like many of the newer Redbuds on the market, we predict this NEW Redbud will perform best in morning sun and afternoon shade. Planting this tree into rocky soil probably will not be the best idea and a raised bed of clean top soil with 6 inches or more in height and a diameter of 8 to 12-feet would be great. MicroLife's 6-2-4 Acidified (with extra sulfur) would be the ideal fertilizer to feed Hearts A' Fire in spring and in the fall.
Long story short. Heart A' Fire probably will not be the next big street tree for Central Texas but it's a collector's plant for gardeners that LOVE oddities and suffer from Zone envey.
These are limited and available for our SMS subscribers to have the first pick.
We have 8 5-gallon trees for $95 and 6 7-gallon trees for $150. First come first served. We foresee having more trees this fall but nothing is certain yet.
Great gardening!
Nathan Unlcbach
HCWG Horticulturist & Buyer & Plant Lover
Please send complaints to nathan@hillcountrywatergardens.com
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