Persian ironwood

Characteristics:

DECIDUOUS SHRUB with a superb blend of fall colors

Family: Witch hazel (Hamamelidaceae)
Origin: East Caucuses and north Iran
Bloom time: February – March 

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida Rubra) is a broadly branched shrub with a spread of 3-5m. It blooms generously at the end of May. In fall it has red berry-like drupes that are 1cm large. Its egg-shaped leaves are 6-15cm and turn attractive shades of red to purple in fall.
It grows at a slow rate which is why the size (age) of the shrubs we offer can be see only in parks or gardens that have planted a long ago.

This is one of the most wonderful dogwood shrubs. It has been cultivated since 1730. Its first presence in the historic territory of the Czech Republic dates back to 1835.

Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) grows to be a 5-10m tall shrub or tree with wide-spreading branches. Its branches are intertwined and their thin peeling bark creates a richly speckled texture. Simple, 6-10 cm long leaves grow in an alternate arrangement and have crenate to serrate margins that are often red-lined. In fall leaves change to a wonderful yellowish and scarlet red color. Its flowers do not stand out when seen from distance, but have a peculiar appearance when observed from a close view. They have no floral leaf petals and consist only of 10-15 rich red stamens surrounded with a five to seven-pointed calyx covered with dark-green bracts. The flowers are arranged in clusters and they often bloom in early February when the weather is mild.

Its particular mottled peeling bark, delicate blooms and wonderful fall colors make this tree a first-class accent plant.

We recommend installing a suitable garden lighting system to accentuate the unusual, imposing, multi-trunk structure of this tree even more.

Persian ironwood appreciates standard loose sufficiently moist soil that should not contain lime (Lime absence promotes nicer fall colors.).  It should be planted in sunny to half-shade spots, ideally in garden substrate with a slightly acidic pH. Watering must be regular throughout the year, mainly during the first year after planting.
This resistant otherwise low-maintenance tree is suitable for more sophisticated garden and landscape designs, primarily as an accent. 

Persian ironwood is a noble woody plant with stupendous fall colors and diverse applications in modern landscaping.