Published: April 14, 2025 | Updated: October 27, 2026
The Midnight Express redbud (Cercis canadensis 'RNI-RCC3') is a beautiful ornamental tree with deep burgundy, heart-shaped leaves and vibrant pink spring flowers. A cultivar of the native Eastern redbud, it offers striking foliage color throughout the growing season, with velvety burgundy leaves developing green undertones in summer and warm butterscotch-yellow inner foliage in fall.
Growing 20–30 feet tall and 10–20 feet wide, Midnight Express is an excellent choice for a front yard focal point or specimen tree. Hardy in USDA zones 5–8, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. In this guide, I'll cover its seasonal features, mature size, growing conditions, care, and ways to use this beautiful redbud in your landscape.
Handsome burgundy red leaves of the Midnight Express® Redbud tree. Image courtesy of Spring Meadow Nursery via National Garden Bureau.
How to Grow the Midnight Express Redbud Tree
Planting Location: Choose a spot with full sun and moist, well draining soil. This redbud tree with red leaves tolerates a wide range of soil types including alkaline and clay.
Watering: Water regularly during the first two years after planting, especially during dry spells. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings, but avoid letting it dry out completely. For more tips, read my guide to watering newly planted trees.
Mulching: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree. This helps to retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperatures, and prevent weeds. Make sure the mulch does not touch the base of the tree; avoid creating a “mulch volcano”.
Pruning: Midnight Express redbud naturally develops an attractive shape and requires little pruning. Remove dead or damaged branches as needed. If shaping is desired, prune immediately after flowering to preserve next spring's blooms.
Fertilizing: Redbuds generally don't require fertilizer, but an annual application of compost helps to improve soil health.
The lavender pink buds of the Midnight Express® redbud tree emerge before the red leaves. Image courtesy of Spring Meadow Nursery, provenwinners.com.
Where to Plant The Midnight Express Redbud Tree
Front of the House: I love using Midnight Express redbud in front yard landscapes. Its rounded shape, pink spring flowers, and changing foliage colors make it a beautiful choice for adding interest to the front of the house.
Accent or Specimen Tree: Plant Midnight Express as a focal point in a garden bed or open lawn where you can enjoy its spring flowers and colorful foliage throughout the growing season.
Patio Tree: Midnight Express is a lovely choice near a patio, where its spring flowers, rounded shape, and changing foliage provide interest from spring through fall. I especially like using small ornamental trees to help define outdoor living spaces.
Woodland Edge: If your lawn backs up to a wooded area, consider planting Midnight Express along the edge. It's a great way to soften the transition between the open lawn and the taller trees beyond.
Fire Pit Planting: I love using Midnight Express around fire pit areas. Its pink flowers are a welcome sight in early spring when you're starting to spend more time outdoors, and its colorful fall foliage makes a beautiful backdrop for evenings around the fire.
Pollinator Garden: Plant Midnight Express near a pollinator garden, where its early spring flowers provide nectar for bees and other pollinators. Combine it with other flowering trees, shrubs, and perennials that bloom at different times to provide food throughout the growing season.
Street Tree: Midnight Express can also work as a small street tree where there's at least 30 feet of overhead clearance. Be sure to allow enough room for its mature width and keep it away from overhead utility lines.
The Midnight Express® redbud tree red leaves pop in the landscape. Image courtesy of Spring Meadow Nursery, provenwinners.com.
Is The Midnight Express Redbud Tree Messy?
Midnight Express redbud trees do produce some natural debris, but are not considered to be particularly messy. Each season, redbud trees produce seedpods which persist on the tree through autumn. Most are blown away by the wind or eaten by birds and squirrels.
A few volunteer seedlings may sprout and grow, and these can easily be pulled out or mown down before getting too big. Like other deciduous trees, redbuds shed their leaves in the fall. During routine fall cleanups, gathering these leaves can be easily accomplished by using a rake or leaf blower.
Is The Midnight Express Redbud Tree Deer Resistant?
Midnight Express redbud is not considered to be deer-resistant. Deer may browse its leaves and tender shoots, particularly on young trees, and repeated browsing can damage the tree or affect its growth.
If deer are frequent visitors to your garden, keep this in mind when choosing where to plant your redbud. For more information and plant suggestions, read my guide to 12 Deer Resistant Plants (And What That Really Means for Your Garden).
Midnight Express Redbud Tree at a Glance:
Common name: Midnight Express® Redbud
Scientific name: Cercis canadensis 'RNI-RCC3'
Native range: Eastern and Central North America
Hardiness zones: 5-8
Mature size: 20-30 feet high and 10-20 feet wide
Spacing: 10-20 feet
Light requirements: Full sun
Growth habit: Upright, rounded deciduous tree
Growth rate: Medium (13-24 inches per year in ideal conditions)
Flowering time: Spring
Flower color: Pink to lavender purple
Flower form: Clusters of small, pea-shaped flowers
Foliage type: Alternate, simple, heart-shaped leaves
Fall color: Butterscotch yellow
Deer resistant: No
Wildlife value: Nectar attracts pollinators and seeds attract birds