origin
Parrotia persica describes the ironwood tree, also known as parrotia. Its natural home is in the Middle East, where it prefers to grow in low-lying forests with moist conditions. The suffix persica indicates its distribution area in Persia, which corresponds to today's Iran. Here the tree grows in the northern part. Other areas exist southwest of the Caspian Sea. The ironwood tree is the only species within the genus Parrotia that belongs to the witch hazel family.
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In Europe, the wood is a popular ornamental plant in public parks. This is where its triumphant advance began in 1846. The parrotia, which was named after the German doctor Friedrich W. Parrot, can be found in numerous botanical gardens.
growth
The ironwood tree grows mainly shrub-like with several trunks. Some specimens develop a main stem that branches close to the ground and develops a crown. Tree-shaped parrotia are remarkably low. The species develops a root system that creeps shallowly under the surface of the earth.
As a summer-green wood, the parrotia sheds its leaves in autumn. The wood has reached a small annual growth after many years of growth heights between ten and twelve meters. Due to the slow growth, a very hard and dense wood structure develops, which makes the wood a valuable building material.
The very smooth bark, which is olive green in color, is typical of the trees. In winter the bark becomes increasingly cracked and flakes off in small scales. This creates different colored sections, which, like the plane trees, are distributed over the trunk like a puzzle. The young twigs have bark covered with star hair. They strive upwards in an arch so that the crown usually appears funnel-shaped. With increasing age, it develops a broad, sweeping shape.
blossom
Parrotia bloom before the leaves appear. Eight to ten individual flowers crowd together in a terminal inflorescence that appears like a head. The inflorescences are surrounded by dark brown bracts. The flowers can be hermaphroditic or purely male.
They do not have any strikingly colored petals and between five and seven inconspicuous sepals. These are colored green and taper to a brownish tip. The red anthers hanging down from long stamens are striking. The flowering period of the ironwood trees begins in January, when the winter was particularly mild. The flowers appear no later than March.
What makes the flowers so unique:
- Adaptation to wind pollination
- do not develop nectar
- Trees save energy by not developing petals
fruit
After the flowering period, inconspicuous capsule fruits develop on the hermaphrodite flowers. They can develop two to four valves that contain numerous shiny light brown seeds. The fruits open up explosively along pre-formed structures and eject the elongated to elliptical seeds, which spread with wind and rain.
leaves
Ironwood trees develop alternate leaves, the blade of which is incorrectly ovoid. Their shape appears slightly asymmetrical. Above the middle of the leaf, the edge is covered with curved teeth. The leaf base is rounded or slightly heart-shaped. The short-stalked leaves grow between six and ten centimeters long and are hairy on the top and bottom.
From a distance the leaves are reminiscent of the foliage of the beech. When they sprout fresh, they have a reddish tint. With increasing age, the leaves turn dark green. Ironwood trees are attractive because of their aesthetic autumn color. Shortly before winter, the trees shine in bright yellow and orange tones with reddish nuances or in bordeaux red.
use
The crown of the ironwood trees appears ornamental and expansive. Because of this growth form, the parrotia is perfect for standing alone in parks and gardens. The species is well suited for medium-sized gardens as it grows slowly and does not take up too much space. With age, the tree reaches the size of a large pear tree.
The specimens cultivated as high trunks are popular avenue trees on streets and park paths. Its popularity resulted from the attractive autumn color. In New Zealand, the flowering season is shifted to December. Here the inflorescences are popular Christmas decorations.
bonsai
Parrotia are suitable as bonsai. They are shaped by cutting measures and can be brought into different shapes. The style of the freely upright tree shape is preferred. To do this, you have to prune the tree regularly in the first few years. The ironwood tree tolerates radical pruning. You can remove all side branches from the main stem except for one leafy shoot. After a year, many side shoots have formed on the main trunk, which can then be further shaped.
Tips for designing an ironwood tree bonsai:
- fresh shoots should be wired
- Once the desired shape has been achieved, the bonsai is planted in a bowl
- Put bonsai outdoors in summer
Is ironwood tree poisonous?
Parrotia persica is considered non-toxic. There are no known symptoms of intoxication. You can safely plant the tree in gardens where there are children or pets.
Which location is suitable?
The adaptable ironwood tree can cope with different types of soil. It grows in both moderately dry and moist locations. The species tolerates heat waves. The autumn colors shine particularly intensely in fully sunny locations. You can also plant the parrotia in partially shaded places. Locations exposed to the wind cause problems for the wood.
What soil does the plant need?
The parrotia prefers a slightly acidic clay soil with a permeable structure. Prevent waterlogging in the earth, as the excessive moisture promotes rot processes in the root area. Heavy clay soils should be loosened up with sand. A humus-rich substrate provides ideal growth conditions. The pH value of the soil is a maximum of 7. If your soil has a higher value, you should work special fertilizers or peat into the substrate.
Multiplication
An easy method of propagation is the lowering of shoots growing close to the ground. Bend the branches to the ground and scratch the upper part of the shoot crosswise. The branch is fixed to the ground at this point with a stone so that the incised surface has permanent contact with the substrate. The point protrudes from under the stone.
Root formation requires patience. After two years the shoot has developed enough roots so that it can be separated from the mother plant. Plant the sinker in the desired location.
sowing
You can cut off the fruit heads before the capsule fruits have cracked. Store the shoots in a tall container and place it in a warm and sunny place. Here the fruits continue to ripen until the capsules pop open and the seeds are released.
Sprinkle the seeds on a moist growing substrate (9.05 € at Amazon *) and cover the container with a transparent foil. The seeds germinate under optimal conditions after three weeks at the earliest and eight weeks at the latest. It can take up to ten years for the plants propagated by seedlings to flower for the first time. The autumn color of these plants can be very different. Note that this method of propagation does not produce true offspring. The young plants develop other combinations of the traits that they inherited from their parent plants.
Cuttings
Cut off shoots between six and eight inches just below a leaf knot. The lower half of the cutting is defoliated. Dip the interface in a bowl of willow water. The growth hormones from the willow branches stimulate the formation of roots.
How to make willow water:
- Cut annual shoots into small pieces
- Place the leaves and shoot pieces in a large bowl
- Pour boiling water over them
- Let it draw covered for 24 hours
The cuttings are placed in a seed container with a sand-peat mixture. Moisten the substrate and place a glass over the planter. You can also put the pots in a greenhouse that is in a bright spot with temperatures between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius. It takes between two and four weeks for the cuttings to form roots.
Ironwood tree in a pot
Due to the slow growth, young ironwood trees are suitable for container cultivation. Choose a large container with the largest possible diameter, as the trees have shallow roots in the substrate. A drainage hole in the pot ensures that the water drains off. Pour excess water off the coaster so that the moisture does not build up in the substrate. A mixture of loamy earth and sand is suitable as a substrate. If the plants get too small for the container, they should be planted in the garden.
balcony
As a young plant in a pot, the ironwood tree spends the year outdoors. As a container plant, it beautifies sunny balconies and terraces that offer a sheltered location. In winter you can leave the tree outside. Make sure you have appropriate winter protection for the bucket. So that the root ball does not freeze, you should wrap the pot generously with plastic wrap and place it on a styrofoam plate (€ 25.90 at Amazon *) or a piece of wood.
Watering the ironwood tree
Ironwood trees have a moderate need for water. They only need to be watered during long periods of drought. If you cultivate your plant in a tub, ironwood trees will enjoy regular watering
Fertilize the ironwood tree properly
In the spring, give the plant a fertilizer with compost that you work into the soil. An additional supply of nutrients is not necessary for outdoor trees. Potted plants should be supplied with a mineral fertilizer every four weeks. The supply takes place until September. The wood then goes into hibernation and does not need any further fertilization until spring.
Properly cut ironwood tree
The protruding crown of the parrotia rarely needs to be cut back if a few branches disturb the picture. Choose a cool day between March and April after the flowers have wilted. Use sharp secateurs whose blades have been thoroughly cleaned for the cut.
In order to avoid unsightly cuts and stumps, you should proceed with the pruning measures with caution. Avoid radical cutting back into the old wood. The tree sprouts even after radical pruning. However, this measure destroys the aesthetic form.
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Overwinter
Adult specimens that are well rooted can tolerate temperatures down to -20 degrees Celsius. Additional protective measures are recommended in particularly harsh winter months. Wrap the trunk and crown with mats made of reed or jute ribbon. They act as an insulating layer from the freezing cold. Cover the root area with coconut mats (€ 116.09 on Amazon *) and spread leaves and brushwood on the base.
Young plants need winter protection in the first few years even at lower minus temperatures. From July onwards, do not use nitrogenous fertilizers, as these prevent the wood from ripening and the branches are susceptible to frost damage.
How do I transplant properly?
You should already pay attention to the height of the parrotia when planting, as it is difficult to transplant mature trees later. With this measure, the shallow root loses numerous roots and can no longer adequately supply the mighty crown at the new location. Overly damaged trees often die after being transplanted.
Pests
The black weevil occasionally attacks ironwood trees. The pest feeds on the leaf mass and lays its eggs on the substrate. The larvae damage the fine roots. Nematodes, which are administered via the irrigation water, fight the larvae. Beetles should be collected regularly at dusk. A nematode trap has proven itself for pest control.
Fungal attack
If dry leaves cannot be traced back to incorrect care measures or suboptimal location conditions, a settlement of spores can be the cause.
Verticillium wilt
Wilting leaves indicate an infestation by Verticillium fungi, which is causing young trees to die. Older trees can often fight the fungal disease on their own. It is not uncommon for chronic infections to occur afterwards, in which shoots die off. Generously remove infected parts of the plant and dispose of them with household waste.
Phytophthora
The fungi within this genus are responsible for root rot. If the disease has spread widely, the tree can die. Waterlogging promotes the spread of spores. The fungal infestation cannot be actively combated. Infested trees should be removed to prevent the spores from spreading further.
Tips
Spread bark mulch on the substrate. The shredded wood waste protects the floor from drying out and keeps it warm. The valuable nutrients from the pieces of wood are released when the soil organisms decompose the material. They increase the vitality of the tree. At the same time, bark mulch creates a decorative look and a harmonious image.
sorts
- Vanessa : Splendid autumn color with yellow, orange, red, pink and purple hues. Yellow capitula with red stamens. Height between eight and twelve meters.
- Persian Spire : narrow growth, aspiring. Shoots purple, leaves dark green with a purple edge in summer. Autumn colors yellow, orange and purple. Growth height up to 250 centimeters.
- Bella : leaves shoot wine-red, leaves greenish, colored deep red in autumn. Grows between eight and ten feet tall.
