In autumn it enchants with a unique color of its leaves. Even when it sprout in spring with the red-edged, delicate green leaves, it is an ornament for the garden. Its wood quality is so hard that the Parrotia persica is also called ironwood tree or iron tree. The ornamental tree native to Iran is usually richly branched just above the ground, so that it is more reminiscent of a large shrub than a tree. With the right pruning, this member of the witch hazel family can easily be grown into a single-stemmed tree.
Table of Contents
growth
With a maximum height of 8 meters, the Persian ironwood tree is not particularly large. On the other hand, from January to March it shows extravagant flowers with numerous hanging stamens that end in red anthers. Throughout the summer, the iron tree gives way to the flowers and ornamental trees in the garden, until in August it unleashes a spectacular firework display of yellow, orange, purple and pink that even survives the first frosty nights.
location
The homeland of the Persian ironwood already suggests that this tree loves the sun. It prefers light shade, because the leaves do not tolerate the blazing midday sun very well in summer. In addition, the following factors should be considered when choosing a location:
- Sheltered from the wind, especially no drafts.
- Humic, well-drained soil with a light sand content.
- The ideal pH value is a maximum of 7.
- If the pH is too high, mix in some peat or special fertilizer.
- Balanced moisture content without the risk of waterlogging.
- The ironwood tree does not thrive in heavy clay soil.
- Suitable as a solitaire in a bed or in a large tub.
With good care, the Parrotia persica reaches a mighty growth width of 10 meters and more over the years. This circumstance should be taken into account when deciding on the location, because transplanting an adult iron tree is not only associated with enormous effort, but usually also means its quick end.
maintenance
If the location and soil quality are right, the Persian ironwood is quite frugal in terms of care:
- Water regularly in the bucket.
- Repot every spring.
- Only water beds in dry summer periods.
- Work compost into the soil in spring.
- As a container plant, apply mineral fertilizer every 4 weeks.
- Stop fertilizing after September.
As a shallow root, the ironwood tree is unsuitable for underplanting with flowers and perennials. A decorative look in the root area is achieved by distributing bark mulch. As a rule, this is shredded wood waste, which not only ensures a harmonious appearance, but also keeps the soil moist and warm – just the way the iron tree likes it. In addition, bark mulch contains valuable nutrients that are essential for the vitality of the tree.
To cut
In order to preserve the natural habit of the Persian ironwood tree with its wide spreading crown, experts advise only pruning it back slightly. The best time to do this is right after flowering in March or April. The parrotia persica is trimmed into the desired shape using sharp pruning shears, being careful not to cut anything into the old wood. If the witch hazel plant is pruned regularly and prudently from an early age, radical cuts or even unsightly stumps are reliably avoided.
Opening up needs to be well thought out
Garden lovers who want to grow their Parrotia as a single-trunk tree cannot avoid removing the branches in the lower area. There is also nothing to be said against a moderate pruning, i.e. the removal of the lower tiers of branches. Depending on the location, it may even be required by law to cut off the branches up to a certain height. However, experienced hobby gardeners are aware that the measure cannot be reversed. If too many branches are removed in the heat of the moment, this robs the ironwood tree of its inimitable silhouette. Experienced gardeners therefore always step back a few steps while pruning and let the appearance of the tree work on them before continuing with the pruning. In addition, the environmentally conscious hobby gardener considers
hibernate
An adult Parrotia persica, which has become well established at its location over several years, is hardy down to -20° Celsius. Until then, the tree outdoors needs winter protection:
- Wrap the trunk and crown with jute ribbons or reed mats.
- Alternatively, lean boards at an angle.
- Do not wrap the crown in plastic wrap.
- Cover the surrounding ground with coconut mats.
- Pile a thick layer of leaves or brushwood on the mats.
Incidentally, effective winter protection for the young Persian ironwood begins in summer. No nitrogenous fertilizer should be applied after July 15th as this reduces the extent of wood maturity and makes the branches susceptible to frost damage.
In the tub, protection against frost and snow is always required, regardless of the age of the plant. Ideally, a bright and cool winter quarters with temperatures between 5° and 10° Celsius is available. If this is not the case, the experienced gardener protects his Parrotia persica with the following measures:
- Place against a wind-protected house wall.
- Protect from frost from below on a wooden or polystyrene block.
- Wrap the planter in a protective cover.
- Cover root area with straw, brushwood or coconut mat.
- Water lightly on frost-free days.
- Tie young twigs together loosely with raffia.
- Put fleece hood or jute bag over the crown.
Incidentally, the winter protection can also be designed quite decoratively. Creatively printed protective hoods are now available in specialist shops. If these are then attached with colored ribbon, a cheerful eye-catcher is created in the otherwise dark season.
diseases and pests
By nature, the Persian ironwood tree is a robust and resilient plant. If there are signs that it is not doing well, the first step is to check whether there is mechanical damage, such as a location that is too dark, waterlogging or sharp drafts. If these disadvantages can be ruled out, the suspicion arises that a fungal disease has attacked the tree.
vine weevil
In addition to the fungal infections, it is the vine weevil in particular that nibbles on the leaves of the ironwood tree and lays their eggs on the roots. The larvae attack the fine roots and do not stop for the main roots either. Nematodes, microscopic roundworms that are spread with the irrigation water, have proven effective as a control agent. In order to get rid of the adult pests, nematode traps filled with a gel that destroys the beetles within 24 hours have been used for some time.
Phytophthora
Members of this genus of fungi cause root rot that ultimately kills the entire tree because shoots and leaves are deprived of nutrients. So far there are no effective means of combating it. As a preventative measure, waterlogging and overhead irrigation should be avoided and the soil pH value should be as low as possible below 7. Larger cuts should be closed immediately with tree wax or wood ash. If an ironwood tree is nevertheless infested, it must be removed immediately to prevent the infection from spreading.
Verticillium-Which
If the leaves wither, even though the ironwood tree is getting enough water, this is often a sign of infection by a Verticillium fungusattributed. Younger trees usually die within a short period of time with no possibility of recovery. With adult iron trees there is a chance that they can fight the fungal disease on their own. However, a chronic infection can also occur, which causes shoots and branches to die off again and again, which in the long run leads to a balding of the crown. Diseased plant parts should be removed immediately and must not be disposed of on the compost heap. Otherwise, the only thing that helps is a complete clearing of the tree followed by a deep exchange of soil before a plant is planted again at this point.
Basically, with regard to diseases and pests, a strong, vital tree in the right location and with the right care can not harm anything so quickly.
multiply
If you want to cultivate several specimens of your Parrotia persica, you have the choice between different methods of propagation:
cuttings
With what is probably the most efficient method of propagation, several half-lignified shoots are cut off in summer with a sharp, disinfected knife:
- Length of the cuttings is 15 cm to 20 cm.
- Interface is directly under a leaf node.
- Remove all leaves from the lower half of the cuttings.
- Dip the cut in rooting powder or willow water.
- Place each cutting in a 9 cm pot with a peat-sand mixture.
- Pre-drill the insertion hole with a pricking stick.
- Moisten the substrate well, but do not soak it.
- Put a plastic bag over it or put it in the greenhouse.
- Place in a bright location at 22° to 25° Celsius.
- Keep slightly moist at all times.
As a rule, the formation of the roots begins after 2 to 4 weeks. The moist microclimate from the plastic bag or in the warm greenhouse promotes the process. In addition, the rooting powder, which consists of seaweed extract, for example, contributes to even root formation. There are increasing numbers of positive reports of the use of willow water to promote rooting of cuttings. The advantage is that you can easily make it yourself. One-year-old willow shoots are cut into pieces, poured over with boiling water and left covered for 24 hours. If the cuttings are immersed in the willow water for 5 minutes, the growth hormones contained therein have a forcing effect on rooting.
lowering
Ironwood trees, which the garden lover lets grow as Mother Nature intended, have the opportunity to propagate the ornamental wood by means of sinkers. A strong branch is pulled to the ground and covered with earth in a channel in the ground and weighed down with stones. The tip of the sinker still has to look out of the ground. Experienced hobby gardeners lightly score the twig in several places with a sharp knife beforehand so that the roots develop faster. Within a few months, the sinker has formed its own root system and can be cut off from the mother plant. It is preferably grown in a planter for at least the first year until the young tree is strong enough to survive outdoors.
Incidentally, in the context of propagation, willow water is ideally suited to also be used as irrigation water.
Conclusion
From the decorative sprouting in early spring to the red duster-like flowers in April to the unique coloring of the leaves in autumn, the Parrotia persica has everything a gardener’s heart desires. As long as the location is sunny, the soil is not too dry and there is no draft whistling around the branches, this member of the witch hazel family will thrive. Thanks to the spreading crown, the iron tree attracts everyone’s attention and is therefore preferably cultivated as a solitary plant. Since it is also extremely easy to trim, it retains its attractive silhouette if you trim it a little every year, as long as the scissors don’t bite into the old wood.
