#parrotia

Plant of the Day

Friday 24 October 2025

A good start to the autumn colours is the foliage of Parrotia persica (Persian ironwood, iron tree). This wide-spreading, often multi-stemmed deciduous tree or large shrub also has attractive flaking bark. In late winter there are small red flowers on the bare twigs.

Plant of the Day

Thursday 16 November 2023

This is a young plant of Parrotia persica (Persian ironwood, iron tree, ironwood) which becomes a wide-spreading, normally multi-stemmed deciduous tree or large shrub. In autumn the leaves turn yellow, red and purple falling to reveal the trunks of flaking bark and small crimson flowers on bare twigs.

Plant of the Day

Monday 14 November 2022

The autumn colour of Parrotia persica (Persian ironwood) provides a setting for this peacock who lives in the arboretum at Marks Hall, Essex. This spreading deciduous tree or large shrub has flaking bark and small spidery red flowers on bare twigs in the winter.

Plant of the Day

Thursday 5 November 2020

The spectacular autumn colours of Parrotia subaequalis (Chinese ironwood) include shades of red, pink, yellow and burgundy. This large shrub or small tree is considered to be more compact than Parrotia persica. It is endangered in its original Chinese habitats. 

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 27 June 2017

In cool, moist, shaded and wet sites Matteuccia struthiopteris (ostrich fern, shuttlecock fern) forms a great groundcover. This deciduous, stoloniferous fern forms colonies of erect rosettes up to 1.5m in height. The fern contrasts well with the foliage of Hosta or with the cascading foliage of the large, deciduous shrub Parrotia persica (Persian ironwood) and these plants will all produce a stunning autumn colour display.