Having grown 2 Parrotia persica for over 25 years, both are still only 2 -2.5m. in height, although 4m. in diameter. The R.H.S. dictionary says it should reach 8m. x 10m. and many of the illustrations on the net show a much larger plant. Do I have some mutant form or does it not like me? By the way, the autumn colour of this plant must be the best value on the planet (mid August - end of November)
I suspect yours is a weeping cultivar like 'Pendula' rather than the straight species. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/77233/
I'm looking forward to seeing a full season of my recent Parrotia persica acquisition. The specimen I planted last fall is definitely an upright version of this tree/shrub.
Mine is 10+ years old and is easily over the roof of my 2-story house. I would guess approaching 20ft.
Here's an old 25 footer at Atherton High School, Louisville KY.
My two are both 8 years old and about 8'
FYI: In Michael Dirr's "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants" he says, "(I)n Europe, most plants I have observed were rounded, wide-spreading, often with arching, semi-pendent branches." Also, "(A)t Kew Gardens there is a 10' to 12' high, 12' to 15' wide, stiffly weeping form of superlative beauty, the habit is akin to a large umbrella with a long handle with the ribs extending to the ground. The trunk is 12" to 18" in diameter and exfoliates like the species. My field notes also allude to pendulous forms that observed in Boskoop, Edinburgh Botanic Garden, Hillier Arboretum, and Rowallane, Northern Ireland. All were semi-pendulous to horizontal, not as decidedly weeping as Kew form."
Thanks for all the contributions, folks. It is definitely NOT 'Pendula' (it's growth is more horizontal if anything) but HoosierGreen's reference to Dirr is very interesting. There are clearly a number of clones about which may not all be named. Unfortunately I have no idea where the plants came from as they predate me here.
Whatever, it is a fantastic autumn coloured tree, whatever the shape!
I suspect topophysis, or something like it, in the propagation background of your horizontally growing plants. Take a look at this report:
http://www.rngr.net/Publications/neftic/10th-northeastern-forest-tree-improvement-conference/the-relation-of-vegetative-porpagation-to-topophysis-cyclophysis-and-periphysis-in-forest-trees/view
This isn't terribly uncommon in the world of horticulture, when plants are vegetatively reproduced.
Thanks Viburnum Valley,
I have come across this in cutting material, particularly conifers and this may be an example of the phenomen but referencing Dirr again, (Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs,Timber Press 1997): 'many trees, especially in Europe, are wider than they are tall at maturity' and again: " 'Pendula' is a confused entity in American horticulture. The true 'Pendula' has a stiff, umbrella like, weeping habit ...... what is commonly offered is a more or less horizontally branched shrub'.
Interestingly, I have not found reference to these differences in form in European literature.
Here it is at UBC Botanical Garden
Hi Growin,
Yep, thats more like mine, ok, only larger.
I should'a said it's labelled 'Pendula' although I had trouble getting to the label on the trunk. The straight species is used as a street tree here as well as 'Vanessa' (pictured below). Your plant does look pendulous form.
Thanks Growin,
I take your point about being 'Pendula' (see ref. to Dirr), but your photo raises another interesting question about Parrotia. Here the autumn foliage is red and orange. In your photo of 'Vanessa' and in the species in the Botanic Gardens here in Glasnevin, Dublin, the autumn colour is yellow (the plant is also wider than high). Mystery after mystery.
I guess it starts out red & orange and goes to yellow.
Not here. My two 'trees' have quite different autumn foliage, (a) red and yellow, (b) red and purple, hint of yellow and thats the way they fall (eventually). The one in Glasnevin starts and stays yellow.
