Habitat

• native to Iran
• hardy to zone 5

Habit and Form

• a deciduous tree
• 20' to 40' tall
• spread is similar to height
• upright oval crown
• ascending branches
• low-branched
• multi-trunked
• medium texture
• slow growth rate

Summer Foliage

• simple, deciduous leaves
• alternate leaf arrangement
• crenate to serrate leaf margins
• obovate leaf shape
• 2" to 5" long
• 1 to 2.5" wide
• somewhat pubescent
• dark green leaf color
• reddish-purple new growth

Autumn Foliage

• orange, red, and yellow fall color
• showy

Flowers

• red flowers
• blooms in late March
• showy
• flowers before leafs out

Fruit

• irregular, dry, brown capsule
• 0.5" in diameter
• not ornamentally important

Bark

• showy, peeling bark
• brown slender twigs and pubescent
• gray, green, white and brown bark color

Culture

• part shade to full sun
• prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil
• does not like wet feet
• little need for pruning
• drought tolerant
• transplant B&B or from container

Landscape Use

• a specimen
• street tree
• container or patio tree
• shade tree
• urban tolerant

Liabilities

• Japanese beetle
• easily damaged by mechanical damage

ID Features

• large lanceolate stipules
• vegetative buds are stalked and brownish
• globose flower buds, pubescent and brownish black
• showy peeling bark
• red flowers before leafs out
• alternate, simple, deciduous leaves
• multi-trunked
• reddish-purple new growth

Propagation

• by cuttings
• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

'Horizontalis' - Forms labeled with this moniker are semi-weeping, with a wide-spreading horizontal branching pattern. The fall color is good. It has been suggested that these plants are merely the product of cuttings taken from lateral growth of the species.

'Pendula' - The true item is rarely seen, but it is a stiffly weeping plant that reaches 15' tall and wide with good fall color. Most plants labeled with this name appear similar to 'Horizontalis'.

'Vanessa' - A truly unique form, this plant assumes an upright, columnar habit when mature. It has reddish new growth tips and good fall color.