Rooting Redbud cuttings.

A very sentimental redbud tree I've been trying to save is completely broken. There is no hope, so I am hoping there might be a way to root at least a cutting. I know it's the wrong time of year, and probably won't take, but I have to try. I've taken cutting at different points, and stuck them in dirt and water, with and without rooting hormones.
Any thoughts on ways to do better would be very welcome. I was absurdly attached to this tree, my little Forest Pansy...

Thank you.

If it is completely broken, maybe you should dig it up, severely prune it (including the roots) and replant in a proper place (isn't that partially shaded?). I looked up, somewhere - probably Dirr - and my recollection is that it sounded hard to root redbuds. (Of course Dirr always makes it sound easy - just use some bizarre percentage of liquid rooting compound to alcohol and timed misting for 32 days :0> )

Good luck.

Paul

Okay, maybe my brain is more fried than I'd thought, but what is Dirr?
The stump is trimmed, and it is still where it was, it seemed quite happy there until it broke. I'm hoping something works...

Thanks:)

Dr. Dirr is a famous botanist and has written many books on trees, shrubs, etc.

I believe Forest Pansy is usually a grafted redbud so if you cut below the graft then you will need to buy a new Forest Pansy for those fabulous colors. If the cut is above the graft then you may be okay.

Mine split a few years ago so I trimmed out the broken part and it recovered nicely. Here it is a just a short while ago.

Thank you, I shall attempt to find Dr. Dirr's advice:)

I'm pretty sure the problem was that the graft failed. It tried SO hard to survive, but it wasn't to be. I would be happy to have anything that grew from what I planted, it was the first planting at a new home. Forest Pansys are no longer in my budget, sadly, but I'd just like what's left to live.

Thanks:)

I looked at my Dirr book (Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, revised 1998) to refresh my recollection. There was no mention of rooting which, I would assume, means it's very hard. Dirr said that probably tissue culture would take over propagation method of choice for cultivars. He also said that 'Redbuds flower quickly from seed particularly if "pushed" with water and fertilizer'. He said that seed were collected in 1990 and their seedlings were planted in the field in 1992. Several seedlings flowered in 1993 and all flowered in 1994.

He mentions that the seeds have hard impermeable seedcoats. He says scarification in concentrated sulfuric acid for 30 minutes [please don't try this at home] followed by 5 to 8 weeks of cold (41 deg. F), moist stratification is recommended.

In Huntersville, NC (Zone 7), in 2005 (or so), I gathered some seeds from a neighbor's tree as I was walking my dog. I planted them in a couple of pots, outside, and the next Spring some sprouted. I don't recall how many I planted - probably about 6 seeds. I also don't remember how many sprouted, maybe only 1 or 2. I successfully planted whatever had sprouted but we moved away in 2007 so I don't know any more. My point is, gather some seeds this fall and let the cold weather scarify them for you in a pot of moist earth outside. If you live in Zone 8 or warmer, you probably will have to do more with your refrigerator - I don't know. You can look up scarification on DG.

Paul

Thank you, Paul, Iappreciate your help. Unfortunately, as I mentioned, the tree was completely broken, so there will be no seeds. I've gotten conflicting thoughts on cutting, some say they're very easy to root, some difficult. I'm trying.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Thanks again :)

Margo

Sorry I wasn't clear - I meant to suggest you gather somebody else's seeds but as I type this, I remember that you have a sentimental attachment to this particular tree. I hope every thing works out ok.
Paul

No problem, I appreciated the input. Though I don't think there's much going on with the cuttings, wonder of wonders, the stump has put out a few tiny leaves, and better still, they're definitely red :)
Thanks!

Forest pansy shrub sounds nice too (: If enough volunteers come up out of the root ball, maybe a few of them will have their own mimi root systems right below the surface.

I'll take it any way it chooses to grow, for sure. I still have the cuttings trying, but some are getting fuzzy, and none look succesfull. It is kinda soon, so I'll keep trying, and it would be nice to have another one. Or two:)

My professor (Dr. Werner @ NCSU) worked with Redbuds and specifically mentioned how hard they were to root by cuttings - so he had experts who grafted the cultivar he created onto rootstock; though he always pointed out the nature does what it wants, so rooting can work, it just has a very low success rate. I dont know if it is an option, but if it is an especially sentimental tree, you could see if it is possible to have someone graft it, from what I understand you need someone who has experience with redbud grafting to ensure good success rates... this might be an expensive method so not sure if youd even want to look into it. I wish you the best in obtaining a 'baby' from your tree.

I suspect he was right. None of the cuttings took, as far as I can tell. Haven't pitched them yet. I don't think grafting would have been an option this far in. If I'd been very quick about it, and thinking, but I wasn't. It didn't occur to me, tho it should have. I do have baby conventional redbuds, it would have been worth a shot, anyway.
I updated a few posts up, but I was very lucky. The tree is trying to regrow from the stump. It's about a foot tall now and it's RED, except for one branch near the bottom, which is defilitely green.
I'm a happy camper, for sure:)

very good to hear - I love plants which have some meaning behind them... so my favorites in the garden were probably hand me downs or ones i have saved and such.

No pictures yet but I did take a closer look. The green shoot is from underground, as are several of the red ones. The stump is only about 3.5" tall, and even the parts that start above ground are very close to it.
Will still try for pictures.

Perhaps the graft was at ground level so the green leaves are from below the graft and should be removed. I am happy that it's coming back. Growing from an established root system will give you faster growth than you would get from a newly planted replacement; you may get new red bud bloom in two years. Good luck,

Paul