Flowering Ironwood Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- par-ro-ti-OP-sis jak-mon-ti-A-na
- Description
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Flowering Ironwood is a flowering, deciduous shrub or small tree in the witch hazel family native to the western Himalayas and Asia. This plant matures at 20 feet tall and 13 feet wide in an oval to rounded form with glossy, wrinkled looking, leaves. In spring, the flowers appear before the leaves and consist of yellow stamens surrounded by four to six conspicuous petal-like white bracts, which contrast against the bare stems. The plant's species name honors Victor Jacquemont, a French botanist and explorer, who first collected the plant, but died soon after from cholera at the age of 31.
It is tolerant of most soil types, but prefers acidic fertile loams. It does best in partial shade but will tolerate full sun. It is often found growing as an understory plant. It will need protection from frost. Propagation can be more successful with stem cuttings or layering; seed can take 18 months to germinate and seems to require alternating heat and cold.
Flowering Ironwood is a long-lived plant and can be used as a specimen, in a woodland site or in a shrub border.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Parrotiopsis
- Species:
- jacquemontiana
- Family:
- Hamamelidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Branches are used in basket making or twisted together into thick ropes. The wood is hard, heavy, closely grained and used for walking sticks, tent pegs, and axe handles.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Afganistan to western Himalayas
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits capsular, clustered. Seed is ellipsoid, 1/4 inch long, brown and shining.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Clusters of small flowers without petals and 15-20 densely packed, yellow, stamens subtended by 4-6 white, ovate bracts. Blossoms in April to June. Short many flowered stalk.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Two to three inch leaves are glossy with a wrinkled appearance. They are alternate, simple, ovate to orbicular, crenate or with serrated margins, dark green above, dense hairs below. Yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Smooth, gray trunk.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Branches are strong and flexible.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Understory Tree
