Persian Ironwood

The Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) is a medium-sized shade tree with a showy display of foliage. The rounded, oval leaves emerge in the spring as reddish-purple and mature to an attractive glossy pepper green for the summer. In the fall, expect the upright canopy to transform into a captivating shades of yellow, orange, and red before falling off for the winter and revealing the enchanting, exfoliating bark that has green, white, or tan patches beneath. This tree also has a bloom of petalless flowers in late winter that are red and with brownish borders. They are interesting and charming when looked at closely but are very discreet from afar.

The Persian Ironwood is native to Iran and Iraq, formerly the Persian Empire from which it gets its name. This tree is a fantastic choice as a small-scale and manageable shade tree. It does well in small parks and on streets, or in yards near patios or gazebos to provide a pleasant sight year-round. Its colors will really pop in the fall if planted near evergreen trees or its purple-red spring foliage can serve as a fantastic, elegant compliment to flowering trees or shrubs in the spring. It can be planted in full to partial sun and tolerate a variety of soil conditions but prefers slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils.