Plant a redbud tree while it is dormant: in fall after the leaves drop, or in early spring after the ground thaws and before the buds open. Zones 4 to 6 do best planting in spring. Zones 7 to 9 can plant through fall and mild winters. TN Nursery ships its bare-root redbuds dormant, from November 15 to April 15.
This is TN Nursery's order and shipping help site, run by TN Nursery, the third-generation family nursery in Altamont, Tennessee, that has grown native trees and plants since 1959. Here is when to order an Eastern Redbud Tree for your zone, and what to do once it arrives.
When to plant a redbud tree in your zone: fall or spring
Both work, as long as the tree is dormant and the ground is not frozen. The choice comes down to your winter. Where the ground freezes hard, a spring-planted tree avoids its first winter with roots that have not settled in. Where winters are mild, fall planting gives the roots months of cool, damp soil before summer heat. Find your USDA hardiness zone, then use the table. The Eastern Redbud is hardy in Zones 4 to 9.
| Your zone | Best time to plant | When to order | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zones 4 and 5 | Early spring, once the soil can be dug | Choose a late ship date in the window, toward April 15 | Frozen ground and hard frost are hard on newly planted roots |
| Zone 6 | Early spring | Choose a spring ship date, before April 15 | The window opens November 15, which is close to freeze-up here |
| Zones 7 and 8 | Fall or early spring | Any time from November 15 to April 15 | Mild winters let roots keep growing after fall planting |
| Zone 9 | Late fall through winter | Choose an early ship date, soon after November 15 | Spring heat comes early, so plant before it |
TN Nursery's redbud page gives the bare-root window as November 15 to April 15, while the trees are dormant. The wider shipping page covers the whole catalogue and says each order is timed to your zone and the weather. Orders usually take 2 to 7 business days to process, and longer in the busy weeks.
What a dormant bare-root redbud looks like on arrival
A dormant redbud looks nothing like the pink tree in bloom. You will find bare brown stems with no leaves or flowers, and roots packed in damp material to keep them from drying out. That is normal. The tree is resting, and dormancy is what lets it travel and settle in without leaves to feed.
- Open the box the day it arrives, out of direct sun.
- Check that the roots feel damp and flexible, not dry and brittle.
- Scratch a stem lightly with a fingernail. Green or pale tissue under the bark means the tree is alive.
- Photograph anything that looks damaged.
TN Nursery's live arrival guarantee asks you to contact them right away with photos if plants arrive damaged or fail to thrive in the first 48 hours. The full terms are on the warranty page.
Keeping the roots moist until planting day
Bare roots dry out fast, and dry roots are the most common reason a bare-root tree struggles. Plant as soon as you can. If the weather or the ground holds you up, keep the roots damp and cool.
- Leave the roots in their packing, and add a little water if it feels dry.
- Store the box in a cool, shaded place such as a garage or shed, away from heat and frost.
- For a longer wait, heel the tree in: lay it in a shallow trench in shade, cover the roots with soil and water them.
- Never leave the roots sitting in sun or wind, even for a short time.
How to plant a bare-root redbud, step by step
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Soak the roots
Soak the roots in a bucket of water for 1 to 2 hours before planting, as TN Nursery's redbud page advises.
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Pick a sunny, well-drained spot
The redbud grows in full sun to partial shade, and afternoon shade helps in hot climates. It takes clay, loam or sandy soil, acidic to alkaline, but it needs good drainage.
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Dig wide, not deep
Dig a hole wider than the spread of the roots and only as deep as they need, so the root collar will sit at ground level.
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Set the tree and backfill
Spread the roots out in the hole, hold the tree upright and refill with the soil you dug out. Firm it gently to remove air pockets.
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Water and mulch
Water deeply to settle the soil. Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the base, keeping it off the trunk.
How far from my house should I plant an eastern redbud tree?
Plant a redbud at least 15 feet from your house or other buildings, and 20 feet from other trees. That is the spacing on TN Nursery's redbud page. A grown Eastern Redbud reaches 20 to 30 feet tall and 25 to 35 feet wide, so it needs room to spread wider than it grows tall.
Watering through the first season
In its first season, water the tree weekly whenever rain falls short. A spring-planted tree needs the most attention, because it meets summer heat with a small root system. A fall-planted tree in a mild zone gets help from cool weather and winter rain, but check the soil in dry spells. Hold off on fertilizer at planting time.
Will a redbud tree bloom the first year?
Usually not. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service says redbuds normally begin to bloom at 4 to 6 years of age, younger than many flowering trees. It also notes that redbuds set next spring's flower buds at the end of summer and into early fall, and that they bloom best in full sun. A young bare-root tree spends its first seasons building roots. Once it reaches flowering age, the pink to purple blossoms open straight on the branches in early spring, before the leaves.
Transplanting a redbud tree
To move a redbud already growing in your yard, wait for fall. The same Arkansas extension page recommends fall for transplanting established redbuds and advises against moving them in summer heat, when the move is more of a shock to the tree. A young tree moves more easily than a large one.
Other bare-root natives to plant in the same window
The same dormant season suits other TN Nursery trees, so one order and one planting day can cover several. For a redbud with burgundy foliage, look at the Forest Pansy Redbud. For a hedgerow or a large planting, Eastern Redbud seedlings come in bundles of 50 or more.
A native fruit tree pairs well with a redbud. The Pawpaw Tree comes in several sizes, and also in a 1-gallon container. For color at another time of year, Witch Hazel is a native shrub with ribbon-like yellow blooms. Check each product page for its own planting notes before your order arrives.
