Surprise in the Garden: Parrotia persica

 This week one of the many tasks I had was to prune a few trees in my garden. Without a little help, sometimes poor growth, crossing limbs or just congested growth takes place. While this may not be major, pruning it and working to make the tree the best it possibly can be is a good thing.

I was dumbfounded when I came to my Parrotia persica, or Persian Ironwood.  I've written about it before, especially since it has pretty fantastic fall foliage.  In my tree's case, it is brilliant yellow with streaks of intense red.  You can see it here on my older blog post.

I knew it was related to the witch hazels (hamamelis species) but other than the leaf shape, and the growth pattern (prone to congestion...sometimes people describe it as the "green wall") I didn't really clue in.  This week changed all that. I didn't even remember it had blooms! But like witch hazel, it is blooming now with the spectacular deep red blooms.  I will have to watch to see if they open any wider, but they are about 1/2" in diameter.

If this isn't good enough to sell you on the tree....take a look at this photograph by Vibernum Valley....Mine is only now beginning to show this patterning. I planted it about 6 years ago, and it is now about 4" in diameter.

Way cool.  I'm glad I planted it.

Autumns Last Glory

Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood)

 Today was a windy, but Indian summery day.  It is probably the last as 70 degrees isn't normal here at this time of year.  In fact, there were tornado warnings.  This wonderful blue sky shortly later gave way to glowering clouds.

Being that it was such a nice day, I took a quick stroll around the garden to see what colors were left.  Parrotia persica, or commonly called the Persian Ironwood is a really great tree with wonderfully colored leaves.  The dull brown leaves in the back are the same tree as the yellow and red here, but they were older and suffered from the drought we had in the summer.

This tree has grown well in the 6 years I've had it in, although it is still not old enough to show the wonderful exfoliating bark.  Some day.....

Until then, I'll be happy with this.  One caveat though, some green caterpillar thought they'd munch down on this tree this summer...quite a nuisance, although some sort of parasite managed to kill off most of the munchers.

Parrotia, another view.

The other day, I showed you a shot of my winterberry (Ilex vertilcillata) with the gold leaves on it.  They blew off, and you can see the wonderful red berries...at least until the birds decide that they are ready for eating.

Ilex verticillata "sparkleberry"

Ilex verticillata sparkleberry overall.

I think in the spring, this will have to be moved.  I planted a  peach tree whip next to it which has taken off.

Spirea "Mellow yellow" also called "Ogon" I think

Some other great color remains on my spirea.  Once this gets big, it has arching branches with small white flowers.  The leaves in the spring and summer are a yellow green.

Itea "Little Henry"