Forum home› Problem solving

Help with Tree Pansy

sobes74sobes74 Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Hi - looking for help and advice for my tree pansy. It's a lovely tree that I've had for years, it flowered in the spring; subsequently, the purple leaves started to grow but then they all shrivelled up. Can the tree be saved and how please? Thanks


«1

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,362
    What is its proper name, I do not recognise Tree Pansy?
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,102
    I suspect it's Cercis canadensis ......https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/95578/cercis-canadensis-forest-pansy/details

    I wonder if it suffered in the prolonged dry spring this year.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,362
    That makes sense @Dovefromabove.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • sobes74sobes74 Posts: 5
    Thanks @Dovefromabove and @punkdoc. What can I do to save the tree?
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,362
    The only thing to try is frequent heavy watering, two can fulls a week, but it may be too late.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • sobes74sobes74 Posts: 5
    @punkdoc - will try watering. If too late, will it come back to life next year?

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,102
    Not if it’s dead. 😢 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • sobes74sobes74 Posts: 5
    How do i know if its dead? Should I prune it?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,102
    Scrape the bark on the trunk gently with your thumb nail. If there’s a thin green layer just below the surface then there’s some life in the trunk at least. 

    If that’s the case I would water as @punkdoc advises … wait until there’s signs of life before pruning … you won’t know until then which branches have some life in them. 

    Don’t feed at the moment … just water and plenty of it from now until the end of September. 🤞 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 538
    Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'.
    Looks beyond watering to me. But they do tolerate heavy pruning so you could try cutting hard back, by about 2/3. Hope it will regenerate.
Sign In or Register to comment.