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Lavender Twist®

Cercis canadensis

Lavender Twist, also known as Covey, is an unusual Cercis with weeping pendulous branches, with a distinctive twisted or contorted form.

The spring blossom is borne on bare branches and is a pale lilac colour, contrasting with darker pink bracts.

The flowers are followed by a mass of large dull green heart-shaped leaves, which are so dense that the stem and branches are completely hidden.

In autumn the leaves turn yellow.

Lavender Twist cercis (redbud) trees for sale

  • 2-year pot-grown tree £97.00
    In a 12L pot
    Medium size (2.5m-3.5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Sorry we have sold out for this season

How to grow

Lavender Twist can get quite tall for a weeping Cercis, up to 2m in the longer term. It may benefit from staking to achieve this height and to emphasise the contorted shape of the branches.

Because of the density of the leaves you may find that older branches in the centre of the canopy start to die back from lack of light - if so prune them out after the blossom has finished.

Lavender Twist is one of the more cold-hardy Cercis varieties.

History

Lavender Twist was discovered in the early 1990s growing in the garden of a house in Westfield, upstate New York, owned by Connie Covey. She sold the propagation rights to Ohio nurseryman Tim Brotzman who was intrigued by the unique contorted branches. When she later moved house he arranged for the tree to be transported to Ohio. It was registered as a distinct new variety under the name Covey in 1998, but is widely known by its trade name Lavender Twist.

Lavender Twist characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Attractive featuresAttractive flowersAttractive foliageAutumn foliage colourVariegated foliageSummer foliage colour
  • Growth habitWeeping
  • Height after 10 yearsUp to 1.5m / 5ft
  • SunlightTolerates shadePrefers full sun
  • PruningPrune after flowering
  • Site conditionsOccasional droughtFree-draining site
  • Flower colourMauve
  • Flower formSingle flower (5-8 petals)
  • Flowering monthMay
  • Leaf colourGreen
  • Leaf colour - autumnYellow
  • Leaf/Flower sequenceFlowers appear first
  • Annual cycleDeciduous

Similar varieties

  • Cercis canadensis
    Vanilla Twist
    Vanilla Twist is an unusual compact weeping Cercis featuring snow-white blossom.

What will it look like?

Illustrative example of a pot-grown tree of this variety as supplied. Approximate girth: 6/8cm. We try to keep all pot-grown trees down to about 1.5m as supplied, but some may be larger. Trees should reach their mature height after about 10 or more years.

Ceris Can Lavender Twist redbud

This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2022.