Parrotia persica

Parrotia persica - Persian Ironwood

General:
The persian ironwood is botanically named after the German naturalist Friedrich Parrot. The large shrub or small tree grows naturally in the Middle East and in the forests of northern Iran. The plant grows up to 10 meters high and has deciduous, obovate, somewhat leathery leaves. The wood grows very densely and becomes correspondingly hard, which is where the German name comes from. What is special about the plant, however, is the unique play of colors on the leaves. In spring the leaves sprout with a red border, in summer they are dark green, only to change color for a long time in autumn. The colors range from yellow to orange-red, violet and scarlet red. Often these colors run into each other. With age, a barky bark also forms, which partially flakes off and thus appears multi-colored.

Care as a bonsai:
Due to the unique leaf color and bark structure, the persian ironwood has a special potential for bonsai culture. The plant is also vigorous, easy on pruning and easy to care for. However, designing with wire should begin in good time, as the wood will later become very hard and inflexible. The persian ironwood loves warmth and a sunny place is advantageous for intensive leaf coloring. The plant should not be exposed to late frosts and a protected location is also optimal in winter.