Parrotia persica 'Pendula'

Persian Ironwood

Parrotia persica ‘Pendula’
Weeping Persian Ironwood / Weeping Persian Parrotia

‘Pendula’ is a deciduous weeping ornamental tree or large shrub with cascading, arching branches and handsome oval green leaves. It offers excellent fall color in shades of yellow, orange, red, and burgundy, and older plants develop beautiful exfoliating bark in patches of gray, green, tan, and cream. Small red, petal-less flowers appear in late winter to early spring before the leaves, but the main ornamental features are the weeping form, fall color, and mature bark. The true ‘Pendula’ form is considered uncommon, and some plants sold under this name may resemble the broader, semi-weeping ‘Horizontalis’ form.

Type: Deciduous ornamental tree / large shrub
Mature Size: 12–15 ft. wide × 12–15 ft. tall for true ‘Pendula’; some weeping forms such as ‘Kew Weeping’ may be slower and about 6–7 ft. wide × 4–5 ft. tall in 10 years.
USDA Zones: 5a–8b
Form: Weeping, cascading, broad-spreading, irregular umbrella-like form
Light: Full sun to part shade; best fall color usually develops in full sun
Soil / Water: Moist, well-drained soil; adaptable to acid through alkaline soils and tolerates occasional dry periods once established.
Bloom Time / Length: Late winter to early spring; small red-stamened flowers are noticeable up close but not highly showy.
Wildlife: Flowers may be visited by early bees; dense branching can provide light cover for birds

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent as a specimen tree, collector plant, entry garden feature, courtyard tree, Japanese-style garden accent, or focal point near a patio or water feature. Its weeping structure gives year-round form, while fall foliage and mature bark add multi-season interest. Give it room to spread, because older plants can become wider and more architectural with age.

Care:
Plant in a permanent site with good drainage and enough space for the weeping canopy. Water regularly during establishment. Prune lightly in late winter only to remove dead, damaged, crossing, or awkward branches; avoid heavy shearing because the natural cascading form is the main feature. Young plants may need selective training to develop the desired height and structure.

Plant type

Deciduous Tree

Height

12-15'

Width

12-15'

Hardiness zones

5–8

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Very Slow

Bloom time

Early Fall, Late Winter

Flower color

Red

Leaf color

Dark Green

Fall color

Red, Yellow

Attracts

Bees

Soil

Acidic, Highly Adaptable, Moist well-drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Corner Accent, Foundation, Specimen

Shape

Weeping

Bark

Exfoliating

Drought tolerant

No