Parrotia persica
Persian Parrotia, Ironwood
Hamamelidaceae
ExpandHabitat
- native to Iran
- hardy to zone 5
Habit and Form
- a deciduous tree
- 20' to 40' tall
- spread is similar to height
- upright oval crown
- ascending branches
- low-branched
- multi-trunked
- medium texture
- slow growth rate
Summer Foliage
- simple, deciduous leaves
- alternate leaf arrangement
- crenate to serrate leaf margins
- obovate leaf shape
- 2" to 5" long
- 1 to 2.5" wide
- somewhat pubescent
- dark green leaf color
- reddish-purple new growth
Autumn Foliage
- orange, red, and yellow fall color
- showy
Flowers
- red flowers
- blooms in late March
- showy
- flowers before leafs out
Fruit
- irregular, dry, brown capsule
- 0.5" in diameter
- not ornamentally important
Bark
- showy, peeling bark
- brown slender twigs and pubescent
- gray, green, white and brown bark color
Culture
- part shade to full sun
- prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil
- does not like wet feet
- little need for pruning
- drought tolerant
- transplant B&B or from container
Landscape Use
- a specimen
- street tree
- container or patio tree
- shade tree
- urban tolerant
Liabilities
- Japanese beetle
- easily damaged by mechanical damage
ID Features
- large lanceolate stipules
- vegetative buds are stalked and brownish
- globose flower buds, pubescent and brownish black
- showy peeling bark
- red flowers before leafs out
- alternate, simple, deciduous leaves
- multi-trunked
- reddish-purple new growth
Propagation
- by cuttings
- by seed
Cultivars/Varieties
'Horizontalis' - Forms labeled with this moniker are semi-weeping, with a wide-spreading horizontal branching pattern. The fall color is good. It has been suggested that these plants are merely the product of cuttings taken from lateral growth of the species.
'Pendula' - The true item is rarely seen, but it is a stiffly weeping plant that reaches 15' tall and wide with good fall color. Most plants labeled with this name appear similar to 'Horizontalis'.
'Vanessa' - A truly unique form, this plant assumes an upright, columnar habit when mature. It has reddish new growth tips and good fall color.