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Description:
Native to Iran and hardy to zone 5, Persian Parrotia is a deciduous tree 7 to 13m tall. Its spread is similar to height. It has an upright oval crown with ascending branches. It is a low-branched, often multi-trunked tree with medium texture and a slow growth rate. In summer it has simple, deciduous leaves in an alternate leaf arrangement. Leaves have crenate to serrate leaf margins and obovate leaf shape. They are 5 to 13cm long, somewhat pubescent and have a dark green colour. The new growth is reddish-purple. The lustrous dark green leaves turn bright yellow, orange and purplish red in the fall and the tree becomes very showy. Persian Parrotia produces red flowers in late March. They are spectacular and appear before leafs started to bud. They have no petals; what you see are spiderlike clusters of ruby red stamens borne along the naked branches in late winter, before the leaves emerge. Fruit of Parrotia is an irregular, dry, brown capsule, aprroximately 1.5cm in diameter and it is not not ornamentally important. Parrotia´s peeling bark is distinctive with its gray, green, white and brown colour. It has brown slender and pubescent twigs. Persian ironwood is attractive when not in leaf, too: the smooth bark on the trunk and larger branches peels and flakes, creating a mottled patchwork of green, beige, white and gray blotches. Parrotia is best grown in part shade to full sun. It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil and does not like wet feet. It does not require almost any pruning and is drought tolerant. Persian Parrotia can be used a specimen tree, street tree or container or patio tree. Parrotias eventually, after 15 years or so, reach an approximate height of nine metres, so probably aren’t trees to choose if you’re in a hurry.