Cercis canadensis 'Merlot'

RHS Plant Profile

eastern redbud 'Merlot'

Synonyms

Cercis canadensis var. texensis 'Merlot'

Shrubs Trees

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A large deciduous shrub or small, often multi-stemmed, tree to a height of 4m. Leaves to 12cm in width, broadly heart-shaped, deep red-purple turning green in summer and shades of orange, bronze and red-purple in autumn. A good display of deep-pink flowers appear in clusters on bare stems before the leaves in spring. It is thought to be more drought and heat-tolerant than C. 'Forest Pansy'

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand, Clay, Chalk

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand Clay Chalk

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Neutral or Alkaline or Acid

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Spreading branched
Genus: Cercis are deciduous shrubs or small trees with heart-shaped leaves and clusters of bright pink pea-flowers opening before or with the leaves, followed by flattened, deep purple pods
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive well-drained soil in sun or partial shade; plant in final location when young, older plants resent transplanting. For more information, see tree cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1 or pruning group 7 if carried out in dry weather in late spring or early summer to deter the entry of decay organisms

Pests

May be susceptible to leafhoppers and scale insects

Diseases

May be susceptible to verticillium wilt and coral spot