Persian ironwood is a deciduous tree that earns its name through sheer durability and visual drama. Hardy in zones 4-8, it grows 20-40 feet tall and 8-30 feet wide, developing either as a single-trunk tree or a multi-stemmed shrub depending on how you shape it. In late winter to early spring, before leaves emerge, the branches come alive with flowers whose dense red stamens and brownish bracts create genuine visual interest when you look closely, even if they read as understated from a distance. This is a tree that handles urban pollution and clay soil without complaint, making it surprisingly practical for challenging sites.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-8
480in H x 360in W
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High
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Persian ironwood thrives in full sun with moderate water and moderate maintenance, asking very little while delivering year-round character. It tolerates clay soil and urban conditions that would stress many ornamental trees, and source reports indicate no serious insect or disease problems. The late-winter bloom timing is particularly valuable, arriving when most gardens are still bare and hungry for color. For gardeners working with tough growing conditions, this tree feels like a gift.
Persian ironwood serves as both a flowering tree and a street tree, valued for its ornamental presence in urban landscapes and residential gardens where soil and air quality present growing challenges.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Prune Persian ironwood in late winter or early spring to shape your tree before new growth emerges. Because it can grow as either a single-trunk tree or a multi-stemmed shrub, your pruning approach depends on the form you prefer; remove competing leaders if you want a traditional tree structure, or allow multiple stems for a larger shrub form. Light pruning to remove crossing branches or maintain shape is sufficient; the tree does not require heavy annual pruning.
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