Partial shade; best if protected from afternoon summer sun. ‘Oklahoma’ is a popular selection of Texas redbud, with cool wine-red or magenta-colored flowers covering the bare branches in early springtime. It contrasts strikingly with the warm pinks of other redbuds.
Redbud grows happily as an understory specimen around deciduous shade trees. The heart-shaped leaves are noticeably glossy.
Pruning is always optional; redbud is usually a small tree even when full grown. Cuts should only be made at a bud or branch; in general focus on minimizing dead damaged or rubbing branches. As with any tree remove no more than 25% of the total canopy during any five-year cycle. To maintain a healthy specimen leave the upper 2/3 of the tree’s height uncut and never remove more than the lowest third of the tree in a single pruning period — for example, on a 12-foot tree, stick to the lowest 4 feet.
