R. 'Cherries and Merlot'

Rhododendron Hybrid

Hybridized By	Fujioka, Frank
Seed Parent	R. 'Pretty Baby x pachysanthum'
Pollen Parent	R. 'Whid Bee'
Introduced	2001
10 Year Height	100 cm. (3ft.)
Bloom Time	early midseason
Flower	funnel-campanulate
Flower Color	red
Fragrance	None
Leaves	elliptic
Leaf persistence	Evergreen
Type	Elepidote
Plant Hardiness	-12 C (10 F)
Flower Bud Hardiness	?
Registration	Registered

Title R. 'Cherries and Merlot' in flower, back-lit Photo By John Verwolf Date Taken May 4, 2023 Location Shirley, BC, Canada License CC BY 4.0 Attribution Text: John Verwolf via Rhododendra.com, CC BY 4.0 Sizes small 768 x 1020, 53 KB medium 1600 x 2126, 185 KB Full 3072 x 4080, 1.5 MB
Title R. 'Cherries and Merlot' Photo By Thatrhodylady Date Taken April 20, 2026 Location Private Garden Seatac, WA, USA License CC BY 4.0 Attribution Text: Thatrhodylady via Rhododendra.com, CC BY 4.0 Sizes small 648 x 1152, 53 KB medium 1350 x 2400, 223 KB Full 2296 x 4080, 3.2 MB Description R. 'Cherries and Merlot' flowers and thin red indumentum.
Title R. 'Cherries and Merlot' Photo By Thatrhodylady Date Taken April 20, 2026 Location Private Garden Seatac, WA, USA License CC BY 4.0 Attribution Text: Thatrhodylady via Rhododendra.com, CC BY 4.0 Sizes small 648 x 1152, 32 KB medium 1350 x 2400, 151 KB Full 2296 x 4080, 3.2 MB Description R. 'Cherries and Merlot' flower closeup looking up at its very faint blotch.
Title R. 'Cherries and Merlot' Photo By Thatrhodylady Date Taken April 21, 2026 Location Private Garden Seatac, WA, USA License CC BY 4.0 Attribution Text: Thatrhodylady via Rhododendra.com, CC BY 4.0 Sizes small 540 x 960, 78 KB medium 1350 x 2400, 528 KB Full 2296 x 4080, 3.3 MB Description R. 'Cherries and Merlot' flowers and thin red indumentum.
Title R. 'Cherries and Merlot' Photo By Thatrhodylady Date Taken April 10, 2026 Location Private Garden Seatac, WA, USA License CC BY 4.0 Attribution Text: Thatrhodylady via Rhododendra.com, CC BY 4.0 Sizes small 648 x 1152, 62 KB medium 1350 x 2400, 276 KB Full 2296 x 4080, 3 MB Description R. 'Cherries and Merlot' flowers close up on stamen and stigma.
Title R. 'Cherries and Merlot' Photo By Thatrhodylady Date Taken April 10, 2026 Location Private Garden Seatac, WA, USA License CC BY 4.0 Attribution Text: Thatrhodylady via Rhododendra.com, CC BY 4.0 Sizes small 648 x 1152, 59 KB medium 1350 x 2400, 252 KB Full 2296 x 4080, 2.9 MB Description R. 'Cherries and Merlot' flowers starting to open. Also seen is the red indumentum on the underside of the leaves.
Title R. 'Cherries and Merlot' Photo By Thatrhodylady Date Taken August 21, 2025 Location Private Garden Seatac, WA, USA License CC BY 4.0 Attribution Text: Thatrhodylady via Rhododendra.com, CC BY 4.0 Sizes small 648 x 1152, 76 KB medium 1350 x 2400, 522 KB Full 2296 x 4080, 3.3 MB Description R. 'Cherries and Merlot' indumentum underside of leaves.
Title Cherries and Merlot Photo By Frank Fujioka Date Taken Location License Copyright, Frank Fujioka. Sizes small 768 x 576, 48 KB medium 960 x 720, 93 KB