Parrotia persica Select

Select Ironwood

Select Persian Ironwood / Select Persian Parrotia

‘Select’ appears to be a selected form of Persian ironwood, a deciduous ornamental tree valued for multi-season interest. New foliage often emerges reddish purple to bronze, matures to glossy green, then turns excellent shades of yellow, orange, red, and burgundy in fall. Small red, petal-less flowers with showy stamens appear on bare branches in late winter to early spring, and older trees develop attractive exfoliating bark in patches of gray, green, tan, cream, and white. Persian ironwood can be variable in form when seed-grown, so “Select” may refer to nursery-selected stock rather than a widely documented formal cultivar.

Type: Deciduous ornamental tree / large shrub
Mature Size: 15–30 ft. wide × 20–40 ft. tall; can be smaller and more shrub-like if multi-stemmed or maintained by pruning.
USDA Zones: 5a–8b; some nursery listings are narrower, often zone 5–7.
Form: Upright oval to rounded; may be single-trunk or multi-stemmed
Light: Full sun to part shade; best fall color usually develops in full sun
Soil / Water: Moist, well-drained soil; adaptable once established; water during prolonged drought
Bloom Time / Length: Late winter to early spring; small red-stamened flowers appear before leaves and are best appreciated up close.
Wildlife: Early flowers may attract bees; dense branching can provide light cover for birds

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent as a specimen tree, small shade tree, street tree, entry planting, courtyard tree, park tree, or multi-season ornamental in residential landscapes. The main features are reliable fall color, clean foliage, unusual late-winter flowers, and exfoliating bark with age. It is also useful as an underused alternative to more common small ornamental trees.

Care:
Plant in a permanent location with good drainage and enough room for the canopy to mature. Water regularly during establishment. Prune lightly in late winter to remove dead, damaged, crossing, or poorly placed branches. Avoid heavy pruning unless training a young tree, because the natural branching structure and bark are part of the ornamental value.

Plant type

Flowering Ornamental Tree

Height

20-40'

Width

15-20'

Hardiness zones

5–8

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Bloom time

Early Spring, Late Winter

Flower color

Red

Leaf color

Green

Attracts

Bees

Soil

Highly Adaptable, Moist well-drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Corner Accent

Shape

Oval Upright, Rounded, Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No