Daily details from the garden to bring you inspiration throughout the year
Parrotia persica, otherwise known as the Persian Ironwood, is one of those plants of whose features I can’t quite decide upon a favourite, which is just what you want in a plant since it suggests it’s either outrageously interesting at one particular point in the year, or really quite pleasant to have about during more than one season. In the case of the parrotia, it’s the latter. First, there’s the bark, which has the kind of grey-green and cream platelet malarkey that puts me in mind of a London plane tree. Then there’s the autumn spectacle, when the leaves turn the most wonderful combination of deep pink, organge and yellow, entirely like the Fruit Salad chews of bygone days (you can almost certainly still get them, but back in the day we didn’t know quite how bad for you they were. And they won’t cost a penny any more). Finally, just when you think it’s gone to sleep, tiny, deep red – not unlike those of its relative the witch hazel – appear all over the bare twigs. If pressed, I’d take the foliage bark or the flowers but, thankfully, we can have all three.
A year of garden coaching
To find out more about my my 12 month online garden coaching programme, please visit the website, where you can read more details and add your name to the waiting list to be the first to hear when enrolment opens up again for the spring.
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Hello! I’m Andrew, gardener, blogger, podcaster, and owner of a too-loud laugh, and I’m so pleased you’ve found your way to Gardens, weeds & words. You can read a more in-depth profile of me on the About page, or by clicking the image above.
