There are many varieties of redbud trees in the United States, with three distinctive types and numerous cultivars. They’re not always easy to tell apart though, especially when they’re cultivated from each other. If you’re intrigued by those stunning, smaller trees with vividly colored leaves and bright flowers in springtime, you’ve come to the right place. We’re looking at two cultivars of the Eastern redbud tree, the Merlot redbud vs. the forest pansy redbud. Both are stunningly beautiful, but each has its own unique traits that may make it the best choice for your home and garden. Let’s take a look!
Key Differences Between Merlot Redbud and Forest Pansy Redbud
These two trees in the Eastern Redbud family are gorgeous choices that come in different sizes with some unique traits that could help you decide which is your best bet for the home garden or lawn.
Merlot Redbud and Forest Pansy Redbud: Classification
Merlot redbud trees, or Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’ are commonly called the Judas tree, the Love Tree, or the Eastern Redbud. They are a cultivar of the Eastern Redbud family, in the Cercis genus, of the Fabaceae family. The tree is a woody tree from North America that provides nectar for pollinators and leguminous pods or beans for birds to eat in spring. The tree is considered a small tree or large shrub that is deciduous. The Forest pansy redbud, or Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ is commonly referred to as an Eastern redbud, as well, being part of the same family of Fabaceae. The trees look similar to the untrained observer.
Merlot Redbud and Forest Pansy Redbud: Description
If you hadn’t already guessed, the Merlot redbud earned its name from the color of its foliage that is similar in color to the red of merlot wines. The seedpods of the tree, or beans, are in the shape of a weaver’s shuttle. The leaves are deep purple red, like the wine, with glossy textures. The tree is an upright, small tree or large shrub, growing between 9 and 12 feet in height and 10 and 15 feet in spread. If it is left to grow naturally, it will develop a multi-trunk form. In the spring, the tree develops purple, magenta, and pink flowers that pop out in springtime. If the leaves remain in the shade, the leaves will remain deeper, darker shades, while the leaves in bright sunlight will develop greenish veins. The forest pansy redbud is medium-sized, compact tree. The leaves are also a deep, wine-red color in the springtime, after the tiny rose to purple, pea-like flowers fade. The branches are gray and stretch out vertically in early spring before foliage emerges. As leaves develop, the branches curve. The heart-shapes leaves soften the purple shades as summer approaches and turn bright green by this time, then turn yellow and fall in autumn. The tree grows up to 30 feet in height, with a 15- to 20-foot spread.
Merlot Redbud and Forest Pansy Redbud: Uses
Whether you’re a lover of leaf peeping and adore those glorious fall colors or prefer the spring flower drive through the countryside, redbuds are one of the most spectacular trees in the United States. The Merlot redbud is colorful and rich spring to autumn, with vibrant colors and lovely flowers in different seasons, drawing the eye and drawing in pollinators. Often folks use this variety of redbud as a specimen tree or as the centerpiece of the pollinator garden. The smaller size of this cultivar also makes it a great choice for smaller landscape projects, especially with the dark purple leaves that lend a deep, intriguing backdrop for many of the other plants in the garden. The bark of the Merlot redbud is often used for making wood baskets with. The flowers and young beans of the tree are edible and taste similar to peas. Many folks toss them into salads or pickle them for a savory treat. The bark is used to dye fabrics red, as well, and the tree, overall is favored as a liner along driveways, pathways, and similar spaces. Forest pansy redbuds are the perfect choice for a wildlife garden, since they are native to the U.S. They’re often added to beds, used to create borders or margins, and often are chosen as the focal specimen tree in gardens or landscaping schemes. Because of their shorter stature, they’re also often used as “shrub borders” decorating lawns, along patios, to create privacy fences, and as centerpieces in pollinator gardens. Their buds and flowers and bark are used similarly to that of the Merlot redbud, for dyes, edible treats, and more.
Merlot Redbud and Forest Pansy Redbud: Origins and Growing Preferences
The Merlot redbud tree is a derivative of the Texas White and Forest Pansy redbud varieties – a hybridization. The Texas White tree was released by Germany Nursery in Fort Worth Texas in the late 1960s and the Merlot was initially hybridized on the North Carolina State University (NCSU) in 1998, when seeds from the Texas White and Forest Pansy were adjacent on campus and “brought together” through cross pollination. The Merlot was formally released by NCSU in 2009. The Merlot redbud grows in Zones 6 to 9 and thrives in full sun to partial sun. The soil around the trees should be watered when the top 3 inches are dry. The trees adapt to wide temperature fluctuations from -18.4 degrees Fahrenheit to around 90 degrees Fahrenheit in summertime. The tree is somewhat drought resistant but needs sufficient water for flowering and actually does best with some temperatures at least as low as 28 degrees Fahrenheit for heavier flowering in spring. The tree can survive in many soils (including moist, loamy, or sandy soils), as long as they are well-drained, but does best on sunny slopes where it will receive intense sunlight. Forest pansy redbuds, however, are native to North and Central Americas as is and are reasonably available from nurseries around the United States. This variety of Eastern redbud was discovered at the Forest Nursery in McMinnville, Tennessee, in 1947. The tree variety was first spotted growing as a seedling in a seed block on the lot and it’s uncertain whether it was the owner of the nursery (Hiram B. Stubblefield) or foreman (Charlie Keel) who discovered it. Forest pansy redbuds do best in Zones 6A to 8B, in well-drained soil to occasionally wet soils. They have a high tolerance for drought but a low tolerance for salt (coastal) life. They need full sun to partial shade in temperate climates. They cannot handle extreme temperatures and do best with some balanced, slow-release fertilizer. When the top 2 inches of soil become dry around the Forest pansy, it should be watered.
Merlot Redbud and Forest Pansy Redbud: Special Features and Fun Facts
It might surprise you to learn that several components of the Eastern Redbud trees are edible. The buds, the flowers, the seeds can all be eaten pickled, raw, or cooked, depending on the variety. The flowers and buds contain healthy nutrients like antioxidants and vitamins, protein, and fatty acids. And apparently, George Washington loved the lovely tree – he transplanted some from the woods nearby into the grounds of Mount Vernon so he could enjoy them any time he wanted to. Redbuds are tolerant of fire, deer, ice, storms, and black walnut, making them super hardy and viable in regions with tons of those options. The tree’s name comes from the Greek word “kerkis” which means weaver’s shuttle, referencing the seed pod’s resemblance to a weaver’s shuttle. And yes, technically those pods are beans. The tree is in the same family as the bean plant: Fabaceae. The beans are legumes and considered quite tasty for savory meals, while the flowers are more favored for sweet treats.
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