Thanks to the efforts of Carol Bennett, President of Association for Better Community Schools (ABCS), and to Jannet Carpenter, of Norchester Garden Club, Matzke Park Butterfly Garden has a hansom new addition. Having lost all of the fine mature trees due to age and storms, this Texas Redbud tree is an important investment to provide both color and shade as it continues to mature. ABCS donated the funds, Carol selected the tree at a local nursery, and Janet worked with Pct. #4 park staff to select a location and get the tree planted. It is located between the gazebo and the path, and supported by three metal stakes until it is well established. It is blooming already.
Redbud trees, with their vibrant, purplish-hued blooms, are an excellent indicator of warmer days ahead, and the redbuds are now ready to bloom in Houston. In the early spring, the tree is covered with different shades of deep rose, pink and purple or (rarely) white flowers resembling pea blossoms. The Texas redbud’s most notable attribute is its brilliant, purple-red spring blooms, for which it is widely recommended as a small ornamental landscape tree.
Texas redbud is usually found growing native along limestone slopes and other upland sites of Central Texas. Texas redbud typically has a multi-trunk with thick, leathery leaves that are slick and shiny green on the top side, and pale green below. Leaves are simple with entire margins. The redbud flowers before the leaves open. The bark is thin, gray or reddish-brown with white “spots,” and densely covered with lenticels.
