Persian ironwood

Persian ironwood: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Broad, often multi-stemmed tree of 6–12 m with layered, almost horizontal branches.

Leaf

Alternate, 6–12 cm, obovate, untoothed in the lower half and wavy, coarsely toothed in the upper half; glossy. Autumn colours of yellow, orange, red and purple all mixed together.

Bark

Flakes off in patches, leaving a mosaic of grey, green, pink and brown.

Flower

Small flowers without petals, with conspicuous red stamens, in February–March on the bare branches.

Fruit

Small, hairy, woody capsules.

Difference from witch hazel

Witch hazel is a shrub with yellow or orange, ribbon-like flowers in winter and smooth bark.

Difference from beech

Beech has a leaf with an untoothed, wavy edge and a smooth, silver-grey trunk.

Flowering: February–March · Pruning: March–April

Identify by feature: Red autumn colour · Winter flowers · Peeling bark

Looks like it, but isn’t

• Witch hazel Hamamelis: a shrub with yellow or orange, ribbon-like flowers in winter and smooth bark. Difference from witch hazel
• Beech Fagus sylvatica: leaf with an untoothed, wavy edge and a smooth, silver-grey trunk. Difference from beech

Why grow it?

• One of the finest trees for autumn colour: yellow, orange, red and purple all together.
• Red flowers in February–March and mottled, flaking bark: attractive in winter too.
• Grows slowly and stays manageable: suitable for a medium-sized garden.
• The early flowers provide pollen for the first bees.

Persian ironwood: where does it grow best?

• Sun to partial shade; its autumn colour is best in sun.
• Any well-drained soil that does not dry out, including chalky soil; no wet feet.
• Allow 8 m width or more: it often grows wider than it is tall, so give it room all round. For a narrower spot there is the upright cultivar ‘Vanessa’.

Light

Sun or partial shade

Legal basis

Any garden soil

Moisture

Normal

Size

8 m tall, 8 m wide

Hardiness

Throughout Belgium, no protection needed

Goes well with

• Witch hazel: From the same family: also flowers in winter and colours beautifully in autumn.
• Winter heath: Flowers in winter at its feet, alongside the red stamens.
• Japanese maple: Another tree with fine autumn colour for the medium-sized garden, in partial shade.

Persian ironwood: when and how to plant it?

1. Plant from November to March, root-balled or container-grown.
2. Give it a spot of its own where you can enjoy the autumn colour and the winter flowers.
3. Plant at the same depth as before and water well after planting.
4. If you want a tree with a clear stem, buy one already trained as a standard; otherwise it grows broad and multi-stemmed.

Care

Watering

In dry spells for the first few years; after that only during long droughts.

Feeding

A little compost in spring is enough.

Mulch

A layer of leaf mould or wood chips keeps the soil cool and moist.

Patience

It grows slowly: a young tree needs a few years to develop its broad, layered shape.

Tip: Plant it where the low autumn and winter sun shines through it: then the autumn colours and the little red flowers light up.

Persian ironwood: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March–April.

When: Dead, diseased and broken branches can be removed at any time of year. Formative pruning after flowering, in March–April.

How:

• Prune lightly: its broad, layered shape is its charm.
• If you want a clear stem, remove the lowest branches gradually, spread over several years.

Caution: Don’t cut into the crown to keep it smaller: it will lose its shape. Give it enough space from the moment you plant it.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Layering

In autumn, bend a low branch to the ground, nick it lightly and cover it with soil; after a year or two it will have roots.

Sowing

Sow fresh seed in a pot outdoors in autumn; it germinates slowly, often only after a second winter.

Persian ironwood: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy throughout Belgium: no protection needed.

• Fully hardy.
• In February–March it flowers on the bare branches: small red stamens, lovely against the mottled bark.

Diseases and pests

• Hard frost during flowering: A hard frost in February–March can damage the flowers; the tree itself does not suffer.
• Wet soil: On wet, heavy soil it grows poorly. Choose a well-drained spot.
• Poor autumn colour: In too much shade it colours less brightly. Give it a place in the sun.

Through the year

• February: Flowering: small red stamens on the bare branches.
• March: Flowering ends; formative pruning after flowering. Last month for planting.
• April: Last month for formative pruning; the leaves unfurl.
• July: Water during long droughts.
• October: Full autumn colour: yellow, orange, red and purple.
• November: Planting season; the mottled bark comes back into view.

What can you use it for?

Garden and landscape

One of the finest trees for autumn colour in medium-sized gardens, with attractive bark and winter flowers.

For wildlife

The early flowers provide pollen for the first bees.

Did you know?

• Named after the German naturalist Friedrich Parrot, who in 1829 was the first to climb Mount Ararat. ‘Ironwood’ refers to its very hard, heavy timber.
• It belongs to the witch hazel family: like witch hazel, it flowers on bare branches in winter.
• In its homeland it grows in the ancient Hyrcanian forests along the Caspian Sea.