PARROTIA P. PERSIAN SPIRE

Description and General Information

• Botanical Name: Parrotia persica ‘Persian Spire’

• Common Name: Persian Spire Persian Ironwood

• Plant Type: Deciduous ornamental tree, valued for its striking foliage and compact, upright form.

• Growth Habit: Narrow, columnar shape ideal for small gardens, patios, and avenues. Typically grows 3–5 m tall with a spread of just 1.5–2 m.

• Foliage: Leaves emerge purple in spring, mature to rich green in summer, and turn vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple in autumn.

• Flowers: In late winter to early spring, clusters of small, deep red flowers appear before the leaves, adding early seasonal interest.

• Bark: Attractive, peeling bark reveals patches of grey, cream, and brown for year-round appeal.

• Seasonal Interest: Exceptional autumn colour, ornamental bark in winter, flowers in late winter, and colourful new foliage in spring.

• Garden Uses: Perfect for narrow borders, urban gardens, statement planting, or as a focal point in mixed planting schemes.

• Wildlife Value: Flowers attract early pollinators; provides shelter for birds.

• Hardiness: Fully hardy throughout the UK and Ireland.

Planting Conditions and Ideal Location

• Light Requirements: Best in full sun for optimum foliage colour, though it tolerates partial shade.

• Soil Preferences: Prefers fertile, well-drained soils; will adapt to loam, sand, or clay if drainage is sufficient.

• pH Range: Tolerates acidic, neutral, or slightly alkaline soils.

• Moisture Needs: Moist but well-drained soil is ideal; avoid prolonged waterlogging.

• Planting Time: Best planted in autumn or spring when soil is warm and workable.

• Spacing: As a specimen tree, allow at least 2 m clearance from other plants or structures to showcase its shape.

• Shelter Needs: Benefits from shelter in very exposed or windy sites to prevent damage to young shoots.

• Companion Planting: Works well with other ornamental trees such as Acer palmatum, Amelanchier, or Cornus, and alongside shrubs with contrasting foliage.

• Container Growing: Can be grown in a large container, though it will require attentive watering and feeding.

Routine Care, Feeding, and Seasonal Maintenance

• Watering:

  • Water regularly during the first year to establish a strong root system.

  • Once mature, it is relatively drought-tolerant but benefits from watering in prolonged dry periods.

• Feeding:

  • Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring to encourage healthy growth and vibrant leaf colour.

  • Container-grown trees require feeding every 4–6 weeks during the growing season.

• Pruning:

  • Minimal pruning is required—remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter or early spring.

  • Maintain its upright shape by lightly thinning congested growth if necessary.

• Mulching:

  • Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base in spring to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and protect roots. Keep mulch a few centimetres away from the trunk.

• Pest and Disease Resistance: Generally trouble-free and resistant to most pests and diseases.

• Winter Care: Fully hardy and requires no special winter protection.

• Weed Control: Keep the root zone weed-free to reduce competition for water and nutrients.

• Longevity: A long-lived ornamental tree that will continue to provide beauty year after year with minimal care.

• Size
  50-60

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.