Summer 2024You can now pre-order for next season. Deliveries will begin again in September for pot grown trees and December for bare-rooted or mixed tree orders.
Pippin Trees banner logoChoose from over 280 flowering cherries, crab apples, rowans and other ornamental trees.

Merlot

Cercis canadensis x texensis

Merlot is a superb new Cercis variety, related to the colourful and popular Forest Pansy, from which it inherits its dense young burgundy foliage - turning to green over the summer.

The flowers, which appear before the leaves, are dark pink.

The tree grows with a pleasing spreading habit, reaching 3m-4m in the longer term.

Click this link to see a short video produced by North Carolina State University which illustrates several of their Cercis varieties.

Merlot cercis (redbud) trees for sale

  • 2-year pot-grown tree £97.00
    In a 12L pot
    Medium size (2.5m-3.5m after 10 years)
Next deliveries

You can now pre-order for next season.

History

Merlot was developed at North Carolina State University, and is a cross between Texas White and Forest Pansy. The intention was to create a small compact purple-leaved tree like Forest Pansy, but with the heat and drought tolerance found in the sub-species Cercis canadensis var. texensis.

Merlot characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Attractive featuresAttractive flowersAttractive foliageAutumn foliage colourVariegated foliageSummer foliage colour
  • Height after 10 years2.5m-3.5m / 8ft-12ft
  • SunlightTolerates shadePrefers full sun
  • PruningDo not prune
  • Site conditionsOccasional droughtFree-draining site
  • Flower formSingle flower (5-8 petals)
  • Flowering monthMay
  • Leaf colourGreen
  • Leaf/Flower sequenceFlowers appear first
  • Annual cycleDeciduous