Persian Ironwood

Persian ironwood is the connoisseur's tree, the one arborists and plant collectors seek out for its exfoliating bark that reveals a mosaic of green, gray, cream, and cinnamon beneath the outer layer, its fall color that rivals any maple in the palette, and its understated late-winter flowers with showy red stamens that open before the leaves. It grows twenty to thirty feet as a small tree or large, multi-stemmed shrub, native to the forests of northern Iran. The common name refers to the dense, hard wood that is genuinely iron-like.

In Western Washington, Persian ironwood performs well in full sun to part shade with well-drained soil. The fall color is the headliner: a prolonged display of yellow, orange, scarlet, and purple that starts at the top of the canopy and works downward, holding for weeks. The exfoliating bark develops best on mature specimens and provides year-round interest. No significant disease or pest concerns are tracked, this is essentially a trouble-free tree. For a multi-season specimen tree that fits residential lots, provides bark interest, fall color, and late-winter bloom with zero chemical inputs, Persian ironwood is one of the finest small trees available in the region.