Overrated for ease, underrated for beauty — Redbud

People describe Redbud as easy and I'd push back on that slightly. formative pruning in the first five years to build a clear leader needs consistent attention and scale insects or aphids in the canopy attracting sooty mould can undermine progress quickly if ignored.

Where Redbud is genuinely underrated is the beauty. multi-decade investment that improves year on year is extraordinary when you see it in person. I display it in a boundary or avenue planting in a larger space and it gets comments from everyone who sees it. blossom or leaf burst in spring creating dramatic transformation is the time to really understand what this plant offers. Not for the truly neglectful gardener, but absolutely worth the attention it requires.