Giant-leaf Redbud (Cercis Gigantea) 10 seeds (#535)

Like many of the Redbud species, this one has a rounded form and medium growth rate to about 3,50 - 5 m.
What makes gigantea stand out from the rest is its foliage -huge, 15-20 cm (6-8"), heart shaped leaves.
It has early spring flowers in pink and golden foliage in fall.
Lovely addition to any woodland garden.

Genus - Cercis
Species - Gigantea
Common name - Giant-leaf Redbud
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 6 - 9
Height - 2,50 - 5 m
Spread - 2,50 - 3,50 m
Plant type - Shrub, tree
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic (pH 5.1 - 6.50)
Soil type - Clay, Loam, Sand
Water requirements - Average, moist
Landscape uses - Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Borders
Bloom season - Early Spring, Spring
Leaf / Flower color - Green / Pink

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Place the redbud seeds in a heatproof bowl. Cover the seeds with boiling water and let them soak for one minute. This is one method of seed scarification, which makes the hard seed coat permeable.
2. Place a handful of sand in a plastic bag. Moisten it without creating a soggy environment inside.
3. Add the scarified redbud seeds to the bag of moist sand. Close the bag and store it in a refrigerator for 1-2 months. This seed treatment is known as stratification, which takes the embryos out of dormancy. Check the moisture level inside the bag once a week, sprinkling the sand with water when it begins to dry.
4. Sow the seeds where the tree will have some shade during the hottest part of the day. Select a site that drains within one hour of irrigation or normal rainfall.
5. Loosen the soil with a pickax and shovel and smooth the surface with a rake. Planting more than one seed increases the odds that one will germinate. Thin the seedlings to the ones you want to keep after they begin to germinate. Because redbud trees don't transplant well, direct sowing is a better option to increase the survival rate over germinating the seeds in pots.
6. Irrigate the seeds at planting and maintain moist soil throughout germination. Hydrate the plants to the root zone when the soil surface begins to dry. Redbud trees are tolerant of drought but perform best when the ground stays consistently moist during hot summers.