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Parrotia persica (Persian parrotia tree, Persian ironweed)

Photo/Illustration: Andrew Bunting

(Based on 3 user reviews)

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Hardiness Zones:

Botanical Name: Parrotia persica par-ROE-tee-ah PER-sih-kah

Common Name: Persian parrotia tree, Persian ironweed Genus: Parrotia

Parrotia persica has one of the most beautiful foliage displays, in addition to year-round eye appeal and ease of maintenance. Reddish-purple when unfolding in spring, the leaves are a lustrous dark green in summer, and yellow to orange or scarlet in fall. Leaves hold their color for a long period. Older branches and trunks develop an exfoliating gray, green, white, and brown color that is a welcome asset in the winter garden. It grows successfully in Zones 4 to 8, tolerates sun and partial shade, and is easy to transplant. Often, vegetatively propogated forms offer more reliable fall color.
Noteworthy characteristics: Easy to grow. Nice foliage spring through fall, often with great color in the autumn. Bark exfoliates with age. Tiny red flowers in winter.
Care: For best autumn color, grow in acidic soil. It also needs deep, fertile, moist soil in full sun or part shade. Prune minimally—simply remove crossing branches or those that are growing in an unattractive direction.
Propagation: Sow seed in a cold frame in the autumn; take greenwood cuttings in early summer, or semi-ripe cuttings in mid- and late summer.
Problems: Infrequent.

Overview
User Reviews
Photos

Height	15 ft. to 30 ft.
Spread	15 ft. to 30 ft.
Growth Habit	Spreads
Growth Pace	Moderate Grower
Light	Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture	Medium Moisture
Maintenance	Moderate
Characteristics	Interesting Bark; Showy Fall Foliage; Showy Foliage
Bloom Time	Early Spring
Flower Color	Red Flower
Uses	Specimen Plant/ Focal Point
Style	Woodland Garden
Seasonal Interest	Winter Interest, Spring Interest, Summer Interest, Fall Interest
Type	Trees

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posted by arboretum
10/27/2012
Region: Northeast
Zone: 5

when this tree does what it's supposed to- and has that wonderful fall color- it is lovely. But fyi, we had one here at the 'retum in an open west siting for 12 yrs.-that NEVER turned that fall color.With head shaking and regret, we removed it last yr. www.cottonarboretum.com/

posted by ChicagoGardenGirl
8/25/2011
Region: Midwest
Zone: 5

We were fortunate to inherit this beautiful tree when we purchased our house two years ago. It is a perfect addition to our garden, serves as a beautiful focal point, and does very well in zone 5. The foliage is beautiful in every season, with lush green in the summer and bright gold leaves through winter which don't drop till new growth begins in spring. I highly recommend this tree.

posted by WindsweptHill
1/17/2011
Region: Midwest
Zone: 4

This tree lives up to every word in the description. We were fortunate to find one at a private nursery in Minnesota some years ago. It is not commonly stocked in our area. It flourished for six years and we had a hard time deciding which season was our favorite display. Unfortunately, it died back over the seventh winter and was completely gone the following spring after unseasonable warm-ups in mid-winter followed by hard freezes. Some of our windbreak trees were damaged as well. One expert we consulted said it was safer to plant in Zone 5 than Zone 4. This listing indicates hardy to Zone 4, too, which is encouraging. We have since added on and think that location will be better slightly better protected from harsh wind chill than before. It is worth the investment. After seeing the magnificent character of a mature Persian parrotia, nothing else will compare in that location.

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