Moody, near-black foliage and bright spring blooms, the kind of contrast that makes a landscape look instantly designed
FEATURES:
- Deep purple to near-black leaves that hold rich color through the growing season
- Bright pink spring blooms that pop beautifully against dark foliage
- A bold focal point that adds modern contrast to classic landscapes
- Perfect small tree size for front yards, patios, and foundation plantings
- Striking with light-colored homes and alongside gold or chartreuse companion plants
- Easy, four-season structure with a graceful branching habit as it matures
- Hand Selected; Fresh from the Grower
- Ships on our trucks because the size of the tree - does not fit in a box.
Bower & Branch Landscape Design Tip:
Design like a painter: dark + light = instant dimension. Put this tree near white blooms, silver foliage, or golden shrubs, and you’ll get that gallery-worthy contrast all season long. Add a simple uplight at the base and the branching silhouette turns into nighttime art, no museum ticket required.
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Mature Height: 12-18' tall
- Mature Width: 10-15' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Partial Shade
- Spacing: 10-15' apart
Midnight Express™ Redbud
Bower & Branch Trees and Plants
Cercis canadensis "RNI-RCC3'
Regular priceSave 25% on All Tree Collections with code: SPRINGBEST25 at checkout.
Plant with Confidence when choosing Big & Tall Trees and Hedges!
Moody, near-black foliage and bright spring blooms, the kind of contrast that makes a landscape look instantly designed
FEATURES:
- Deep purple to near-black leaves that hold rich color through the growing season
- Bright pink spring blooms that pop beautifully against dark foliage
- A bold focal point that adds modern contrast to classic landscapes
- Perfect small tree size for front yards, patios, and foundation plantings
- Striking with light-colored homes and alongside gold or chartreuse companion plants
- Easy, four-season structure with a graceful branching habit as it matures
- Hand Selected; Fresh from the Grower
- Ships on our trucks because the size of the tree - does not fit in a box.
Bower & Branch Landscape Design Tip:
Design like a painter: dark + light = instant dimension. Put this tree near white blooms, silver foliage, or golden shrubs, and you’ll get that gallery-worthy contrast all season long. Add a simple uplight at the base and the branching silhouette turns into nighttime art, no museum ticket required.
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Mature Height: 12-18' tall
- Mature Width: 10-15' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Partial Shade
- Spacing: 10-15' apart
Why plant Midnight Express™ Redbud?
This is what happens when a redbud decides to dress for a night out. The foliage emerges and settles into deep purple, often reading nearly black, bringing serious drama to the garden in the best possible way. Then spring shows up with bright pink blooms along the branches, and suddenly you’ve got that high-contrast look designers love, without needing a complicated planting plan or a landscaping degree.
It’s a small tree with big presence. The dark leaves make everything around it look brighter, greens look greener, whites look cleaner, golds look electric. If your landscape needs a “statement piece” that still feels refined and easy, this is the move.
How to use Midnight Express™ Redbud in the landscape?
Use it as a focal point near an entry, in a front yard bed, or beside a patio where the dark foliage can be enjoyed up close. It’s especially effective against light siding, brick, or stone, where the leaves read even darker and the silhouette looks crisp. Plant it among softer textures like ornamental grasses and flowering perennials to balance the bold foliage, or pair it with gold and chartreuse shrubs for a high-contrast, design-forward palette. In layered borders, place it slightly behind lower mounded shrubs so the canopy floats above, giving you depth, structure, and color without crowding the space.
Frequently Asked Questions
In early spring, it blooms in bright pink to magenta tones along the bare branches. The flowers are especially striking against the dark foliage as the leaves begin to emerge.
Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil and water deeply during the first growing season to establish roots. After it’s established, provide supplemental water during extended heat or drought. Mulch helps retain moisture, just keep it a few inches away from the trunk.
Prune lightly in late winter to early spring before new growth begins, focusing on removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Avoid heavy pruning, and if you’re shaping, keep it minimal so you don’t reduce the next spring’s bloom display.
