Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’

Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’ is renowned for its dark wine-red foliage and exceptional ability to endure drought and heat. It has a compact form with an upright, dense, vase-like shape, making it an ideal addition to any area, including small gardens. Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’ features lovely pink, pea-shaped flowers that bloom in the spring, and its leaves turn shades of red, orange, and yellow in the fall. The bark of Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’ is dark red-brown, with a scaly surface and deep fissures that reveal a cinnamon-orange interior. The young stems begin as brown and gradually darken to nearly black, creating visual interest during the winter months. Cercis canadensis is deciduous and native to eastern North America. Learn more about Cercis canadensis. Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’ is a hybrid between Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ and Cercis canadensis var. texensis ‘Texas White’ and was introduced in 2009 by North Carolina State University, North Carolina, United States in conjunction with the JC Ralston Arboretum, North Carolina, United States. Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’ was bred by Dr. Dennis Werner, Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’ breeder in the Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University. The original parent trees were adjacent trees in a North Carolina State University campus landscape planting from which seed was collected in 1998 and these seedlings were reared in isolation at the Sandhills Research Station in Jackson Springs, North Carolina, United States. The seedlings flowered in 2002, from which Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’ was selected.