Why Plant Merlot Redbud?
Let's raise a glass to Merlot Redbud, a sweet little flowering tree that will lend a festive look to your landscape! Merlot gets the party started in spring with a flourish of delicate, lavender-pink blooms. The blossoms are borne in abundance and hug the smoky-gray branches tightly. Next come the shimmering, wine-red leaves, which glow in the sunshine like so many glasses raised in a toast to the warming days of spring. A tidy, small-growing tree, Merlot is great for patio plantings, mixed borders, foundation beds, areas under power lines, or anyplace you need a pop of color. Cheers!
Merlot is one of many fine selections to emerge from an ongoing Redbud breeding program at North Carolina State University. To produce the novel tree, Dr. Dennis Werner pollinated a drought-tolerant Texas Redbud, 'Texas White', with a purple-leaved Eastern Redbud, 'Forest Pansy'. More than 100 seedlings from this pairing were produced, and those seedlings were grown on to produce 100 more seedlings of their own. Merlot was selected from this second batch. From its 'Forest Pansy' grandfather, it got its rich purple color, and from its 'Texas White' grandmother it got its compact habit and superior drought resistance.
How to use Merlot Redbud in the landscape?
Merlot Redbud becomes more subdued in summer, the purple foliage often turning bronzy-green. In fall, the leaves transition to gold with hints of caramel and burgundy. A tidy, small-growing tree, Merlot is great for patio plantings, mixed borders, foundation beds, areas under power lines, or anyplace you need a pop of color.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 5-7
How To Plant Merlot Redbud
Redbuds are beautiful woodland-like trees and they are incredibly easy to grow. This is the only tree that flowers on their bark. This means that the vibrant pinkish-purple blooms will appear on their trunk as well as on their branches. They bloom in April and their floral display is like no other flowering tree! A site in full sun will bring out the most intense color of the Merlot Redbud leaves, though this tree will also grow in part shade.
How To Water
Irrigate with the Bower & Branch Elements Watering System to deliver a steady supply of moisture to the roots during the critical first couple of years of establishment. Merlot will be somewhat drought tolerant after that, but its foliage will look its best with regular water.
How To Fertilize
Redbuds like fertilizer! During fall, feed your Redbud Bower & Branch Elements Fertilizer once a year for about the first 3 or 4 years - this will give your tree all the nutrients it needs.
How To Prune
Due to the small stature of the Merlot Redbud, pruning is not necessary. However, if you feel a cut is needed, have no fear - Redbuds are easy to prune and respond well!
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
