Plant Details

'White Pom Poms' is a cultivar of the native redbud tree in the bean (Fabaceae) family created by the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Department of Horticultural Science and released in 2022. It is a cross between 'Dwarf White' (white single flowers), and 'Flame' (double purple flowers). This tree was then backcrossed with 'Royal White' (single white flowers) to obtain a tree with uniformly double, white flowers. Flowers are white, fully double, with up to 25 petals per flower (5 petals is typical for redbud). Flower production is heavy. Flowers are female sterile, hence no fruit (seed) pods are formed. Flowering is typically about 7 to 10 days after the usual flowering time of redbud. Leaves remain attractive throughout the growing season and show very limited leaf spot or necrosis, often problematic for redbud in NC. It will grow up to 12 feet in height. Redbuds will grow in full sun to part shade, are pH tolerant and do well in moist average well-draining soils. Use as a specimen, accent or understory tree. Great for small yards. Redbuds in general do not transplant well so choose your site carefully. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: More resistant to some diseases than other redbuds.  Insect pests include leafhoppers, caterpillars, borers, Japanese beetles, treehoppers, scale, and webworms. Possible diseases include canker, dieback, leaf spots, verticillium wilt, blights, and mildew. It can be a short-lived tree, typically living less than 75 years. (North Carolina State University)