Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood)
Parrotia persica, or Persian ironwood, is a unique and beautiful winter-blooming specimen tree. Its unusual flowers emerge on leafless stems in late February and last for up to a month, providing valuable late-winter interest in the garden. Although blossoms are relatively small (only about ½ inch across), their bright red color and sheer profusion make for a wonderful display. Interestingly, the flowers themselves are without petals – the crimson stamens provide the show.
Parrotia persica has an overall habit that is upright and oval in shape; mature specimens can grow up to 40′ tall and 30′ wide. With age, trunks and larger branches begin to exfoliate, exposing a beautiful mosaic of gray, green, white, and brown bark. This feature adds considerable winter interest, and becomes more pronounced as the specimen matures.
Parrotia persica is a member of the Hamamelidaceae, or witch hazel family, which includes many other winter- and early spring-blooming shrubs and trees. It is native to northern Alborz mountains of Iran (formerly Persia; hence the common name Persian ironwood), but is widely hardy in much of Europe and North America and can be reliably cultivated between USDA zones 4-8. Its high tolerance of stressful environmental conditions, as well as its freedom from pest and disease problems, provide yet more reason to grow this outstanding plant.
Kathy Watts April 3, 2008 at 8:35 am
Can the plant of the month be found in the Scott Arboretum? If so – where?
Liz Haegele April 3, 2008 at 9:04 am
Yes, Parrotia persica is in several spots here at The Scott Arboretum. There are two nice specimens on both sides of the south entrance of Trotter Hall. To view other locations of other Parrotias and their cultivars, stop by the Scott Arboretum office and check out our Visitors Quick Finder kiosk where you can print a map of the Arboretum with the locations of several different Parrotias noted on it.
Phil Stacey June 23, 2008 at 3:11 am
I have a hedge made from 8 persian ironwoods and I think mine may have a disease too. The back of my hedge (which backs onto my fence) has lost a lot of leafage or they appear to have died (brown in colour) Could this be due to the late frosts we had?. On this years growth the leaves appear to have been eaten by something in a lot of cases. I’ve had them for 5 years and they are between 4-5 metres in height and I have had nothing like this in previous years. I’m not much of a gardener so can anyone please help?
Becky Robert July 2, 2008 at 10:47 am
It sounds like you may have a host of problems that is not easily diagnosed via a blog comment. I would suggested you contact an local arborist to have problem diagnosed.
Lisa November 29, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I have seen different pictures of this tree and am wondering if it is more of a large shrub or are you able to walk underneath it like a typical tree. Do you have any other places you would suggest that I look to see more pictures?
Liz Haegele December 1, 2008 at 9:17 am
Lisa- Parrotia persica is a multi-stemmed tree that grows to between 20 and 40 feet tall. You can’t really walk under it because it is multi-stemmed. But it is definitely more a tree than a shrub because of its ultimate height. Let me know if you need any more info!
Mary Hudachek April 1, 2009 at 6:55 am
I live in the Atlanta area. What is an appropriate/ substitute for the persian ironwood tree?
Andrew Bunting April 9, 2009 at 7:51 am
I would think that the Persian ironwood, Parrotia persica would be fine in Atlanta?
Andrew Bunting, Curator
Jeannie Marley May 14, 2009 at 8:38 am
I planted Parrotia at my previous home and absolutely loved it. I have moved and would like another but can’t find one to purchase anywhere. Any suggestions? I live in the north eastern part of Maryland.
Andrew Bunting May 14, 2009 at 8:58 am
Gateway Nursery in Delaware would probably carry it.
Andrew Bunting, Curator
Becky Robert May 14, 2009 at 9:03 am
If you are a Scott Arboretum member, you can receive a 10% discount on plants at Gateway Garden Center if you show your membership card.
http://www.scottarboretum.org/membership/discountprogram.html
killarney clary August 30, 2009 at 7:44 pm
I have recently moved to Aptos, CA, near Santa Cruz, and there is a Parrotia Persica on the hillside. It has about 2 ft of upright trunk and then splits into the trunk and one branch both of which are probably 4 to 5 feet long and nearly perpendicular to the lower trunk. I looks like it needs to be shaped or staked, but there is no way to straighten the trunk as it is. There are no other limbs on the tree, so I can’t see how to prune it. Any suggestions?
Thank you
Andrew Bunting September 1, 2009 at 10:22 am
Generally Parottia persica is a multi-stemmed tree, therefore, I would leave any branches that growing upwards. You may want to selectively prune some of the side branches back to the main branches if you feel there are too many branches.
Andrew Bunting, Curator
Laura September 28, 2009 at 9:31 am
Will it damage the tree if I remove lower branches so that I can walk under it?
Andrew Bunting September 28, 2009 at 10:47 am
Laura,
If you are going to limb-up your Parrotia I would remove the branches in stages over a period of time. Too much significant pruning all at one time might over stress your tree.
Andrew Bunting, Curator