Plant Database
Merlot Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’
Cercis canadensis 'Merlot' is a stunning, fast-growing deciduous tree prized for its glossy, deep purple foliage and profuse, magenta-rose spring flowers. A hybrid between 'Forest Pansy' and 'Texas White', this improved selection offers the intense dark foliage of 'Forest Pansy' with better heat tolerance and a more upright, rounded form . In early spring, before the leaves emerge, the bare branches are covered in clusters of small, pea-like, magenta-rose flowers that are highly attractive to bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators . The large, heart-shaped leaves emerge glossy deep purple, mature to a rich burgundy-wine color (true to its namesake), then transition to bronze-purple in summer and finally to yellow-orange in fall . With excellent drought tolerance once established, good cold hardiness, and superior heat tolerance, it is an outstanding choice for a specimen tree, mass plantings, or as a colorful accent in small to medium landscapes .