Trees

Cercis canadensis 'NC2017-6'

Garden Gems Amethyst redbud

Garden Gems® Amethyst redbud, Cercis canadensis 'NC2017-6' PP35,279. Photo courtesy of Star® Roses and Plants, used under its customer promotional photo grant; native photograph extracted from supplier guide and

Garden Gems Amethyst is a compact, upright redbud selected for smaller gardens and patio settings. Burgundy leaves give it a dark, contrasting canopy after the flush of pink spring flowers. Its manageable scale offers a foliage-focused specimen without the eventual size of many conventional eastern redbud cultivars.

At a glance

Sun: Full sun
Size: Height: 8–10 ft · Width: 8–10 ft
Water: Regular watering until established
Hardiness: USDA 5–9
Bloom: Pink, spring

Sizes & prices

#7Dwarf Purple leafed Redbud$189.99
#5Dwarf Redbud$149.99

Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.

Ask about this plant

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Landscape use & tree form

Use: Small-garden specimen; patio container
Form: Compact upright
Major issues: Canker, dieback, Verticillium wilt and borers can affect stressed redbuds; avoid root disturbance.
Growth rate: Species: moderate; compact and weeping cultivars differ in extension growth.
Fruit / litter: Species-type brown pods may persist and drop; production varies by selection and pollination.

Resistance & tolerances

Deer: Browsing can be significant despite some resistance reports; protect young trees.
Drought: Parent-species guidance: Drought can stress plants; irrigate through dry periods.
Wet soil: Parent-species guidance: Avoid waterlogged soil.

Resistance is not a guarantee; deer and rabbits may browse any plant.

Pollinators & wildlife

Attracts: Bees, Butterflies
Caterpillar host: Caterpillars
Evidence: Species-level guidance; cultivar habitat value varies.

Native range

Native range / parentage: Cultivar/selection of a species native to eastern and central North America. Cultivated selection of a Kentucky-native species; not wild local stock.
Tristate native status: Cultivated selection of a Kentucky-native species; not wild local stock.

Keep in mind: Supplier consumer page lists zones 5–9; its production guide lists zone 6b. Confirm local suitability at colder sites.

Seasonal interest

Foliage: Burgundy deciduous foliage

Growing & care

Site: Water well during establishment. Avoid root disturbance and remove dead branches.
Pruning: Maintain sound branch attachments while young; remove dead wood and weak crossing branches. Preserve a weeping cultivar's trained leader and remove shoots below any graft.
Soil: Moist, well-drained; brief dry periods tolerated

Sources & photo credits

Star Roses and Plants

NC State Extension

University of Minnesota Extension

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

The Morton Arboretum

horticulture.mgcafe.uky.edu

Photo: Garden Gems® Amethyst redbud, Cercis canadensis 'NC2017-6' PP35,279, photo courtesy of Star® Roses and Plants; resized for web. · Star Roses and Plants customer promotional-use photo grant

Image notes: Garden Gems® Amethyst redbud, Cercis canadensis 'NC2017-6' PP35,279. Photo courtesy of Star® Roses and Plants, used under its customer promotional photo grant; native photograph extracted from supplier guide and resized for web.

Reviewed September 22, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.