Flame Thrower® Redbud Tree

Heart-shaped leaves that shift from burgundy to yellow to green, purple spring blooms, and a compact size that fits anywhere — the Flame Thrower® is the most colorful tree you can plant.

The Flame Thrower® Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Flame Thrower') is a showstopper in every season. In early spring, vivid purple-pink flowers cover the bare branches before the leaves even emerge — a classic redbud display that draws pollinators and admiration in equal measure. Then the foliage unfurls in deep burgundy-red, gradually shifting to golden-yellow and finally settling into green by midsummer. No other redbud offers this kind of multi-stage color show, and no other small tree packs this much personality into a manageable size.

What I love about it

The Flame Thrower is the tree that makes people stop and ask "what IS that?" The foliage color transition is genuinely dramatic — burgundy in spring, yellow in early summer, green by midsummer — so the tree is never the same twice. The heart-shaped leaves are beautiful at every stage. It's compact enough for a small yard, a patio corner, or a street planting, and it's a native redbud, which means it supports local pollinators and wildlife. Low-maintenance, adaptable, and genuinely stunning. This is the tree for people who want maximum impact from a single planting.

Plant Care Tips

• ☀️ Light: Full sun to part shade — best color in full sun
• 💧 Water: Water deeply until established; moderate water needs once mature
• 🌡️ Temperature: Hardy to -20°F (Zone 5)
• 🪴 Difficulty: Easy — low-maintenance native tree
• 🐾 Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs
• ✂️ Pruning: Prune lightly after bloom in spring; avoid heavy pruning

Plant Specs

• Mature Size: 12–15 ft tall and wide
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Bloom Time: Early spring (before leaves)
• Flower Color: Purple-pink
• Foliage: Burgundy → yellow → green (seasonal shift)
• Growing Zone: 5–9

Bloom bold. Be cheeky.