Why Do Redbud Tree Leaves Droop?

Disease is just one reason why a redbud tree leaf will droop.

There are a few reasons why leaves on redbud trees tend to droop down. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, how the redbud tree is cared for structurally as well as the exposure to certain types of fungus diseases are determining factors in how the tree will develop. There are steps you can take to help train the redbud to grow laterally and encourage its leaves to look up instead of down.

Irregular Growth Pattern

The Eastern redbud's trunk grows its branches low and naturally grows fastest when young. V-shaped branches can produce weak forks and grow outward. This can cause those branches and their leaves to droop and reduce the life of the tree. U-shaped branches tend to grow tall and upward. This unpredictable pattern can make it a challenge to control the tree's structure as it quickly grows.

Improper Cutting and Pruning

Proper cutting and pruning can be difficult to accomplish due to the Eastern redbud's irregular, vase-like growth pattern. If branches that run laterally are not pruned properly, weakened forks can form when multiple trunks are emerging tightly spaced, close to the main trunk. Pruning is needed for the redbud to develop a strong enough formation for longevity. Otherwise, the trunk and its branches along with its leaves will be more susceptible to bending, drooping and breaking.

Fungus Diseases

The Eastern redbud is susceptible to attacks by the verticillium wilt fungus. The fungus can eventually kill the tree. Canker fungus is a large problem with the redbud. Leaves and the branches they grow on will droop as a result of a canker attack, and wounded or dying branches will wilt. These cankers start small and enter through an already wounded or dying branch. Fungi grow, and multiply, encircling the dying branch until it dies and falls off the tree.

Prevention/Solution

Denver City Parks Recreation and Trees Forestry Office recommends that redbud pruning begin when the plant is young in order to guide its growth.

To help deter the drooping leaves and branches, cut off the V-shaped, weak forks; keep lateral U-shaped, multi-trunk branches pruned and spaced away from the main trunk from 6 to 10 inches out.

Even though redbuds add showy color to landscapes, they are not recommended for planting as an ornamental street tree. If used as such, the Eastern redbud's life may be shortened due to its low tolerance for resisting some types of diseases.

Interesting Facts

The Eastern redbud, or Cercis canadensis, belongs to the Leguminosae family, also known as the bean family. It is the state tree of Oklahoma and is native to North America. Purplish-pink flowers blossom from it in the springtime. The tree's leaves are heart-shaped, and green or yellow in the fall. The blades are wide and measure between 2 to 8 inches.The redbud is deciduous, as its leaves do fall off its branches annually.

Common used as a landscaping tree, the redbud can grow to 35 feet tall, with average heights of 20 to 30 feet. Tree spread averages 15 to 25 feet in diameter, but can expand to a wider circumference. Moist soil promotes the growth of the redbud.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Cercis Canadensis: Eastern Redbud
• Denver Parks and Recreation: Forestry and Trees: Tree Planting