Cercis canadensis 'Merlot'
eastern redbud 'Merlot'
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'
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Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
4–8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Neutral, Alkaline, AcidColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink | Purple | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Orange Gold | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native to the UK
- 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
Get involved
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