Pleached Persian Ironwood

Persian Ironwood – Parrotia persica (Hamamelidaceae)

Ornamental tees don’t come much better than the Pleached Persian Ironwood. Its ability to offer interest through all seasons cements its popularity with garden designers and landscape architects alike. It is native to Northern Iran and areas around Southern Azerbaijan and the Alborz mountains.

First documented by a German naturalist Carl Anton von Meyer in the 1830’s, he recorded the new species as a drought tolerant, small to medium size ornamental garden tree. On finding the tree he would have been excited most by the striking autumn colours and exfoliating bark on older trees. He returned home after having botanised the plant and ever since the tree has found its way into gardens and landscapes across Europe, exciting Garden Designers, Landscape Architects and private homeowners.

A small to medium sized deciduous tree, it grows to 7-10m tall. In its natural environment it is usually found with low level branches close to the ground spreading in an irregular pattern. The crowns tend to be flat topped and spherical in shape. In February/March when other trees show little sign of life, the Persian Ironwood produces a spectacular display of small red flowers on bare stems (usually only on older species). The leaves are reverse ovoid to oval, measuring 6-12cm long and 4-8cm wide, glossy green in colour, gradually turning a rich purple to brilliant red and yellow in the autumn. The tree produces small fruit after flowering in the form of spiked capsules which measure approximately 1cm in length. They are considered non-toxic usually. The bark on young trees tends to be grey to brown which gradually changes as the tree matures. On mature trees the bark is smooth with pinkish brown spots, which flakes or peels to leave tan/golden yellow/pink/green patches.

The tree will thrive in most soil types and it will withstand a short flood but does prefer a well-drained substrate. This tree does not tolerate hard landscaping or paving due to its fine root system close to the surface, so its positioning needs to be considered accordingly. The tree is considered winter hardy and frost resistant so ideal for the British climate. It has also proved to have good resistance to strong winds so viable in all but the most exposed sites. They can be found in all sorts of environments including small and large gardens, open landscapes, large tree containers and roof gardens. Available as specimen trees, clear stem and feather trees, multistem trees, pleached trees and espalier trees, blocks and columns.

Available as rootball plants in the winter months, potted stock available while stocks last and cocoa rootball can be arranged for delivery throughout summer period by prior arrangement. If you are looking for small to medium sized tree, that will consistently produce a striking splash of colour each autumn then this tree must be a serious contender.