Persian Witch Hazel

Persian Witch Hazel (Parrotia persica) is a deciduous feature tree grown for one of the longest autumn displays you can plant. It is slow, settling at about 7m tall and 5m wide after many years, and it carries a broad low branched crown rather than a single tall trunk. In late winter, tufted crimson stamens open straight onto bare wood, weeks before the leaves return.

Why you'll love it

• Autumn colour in stages. The leaves turn gold, then orange, then scarlet over several weeks, so the tree holds interest instead of changing overnight.
• Flowers on bare wood. Small crimson tufts appear in late winter when almost nothing else in the garden is in bloom.
• Roots that behave. This is a non invasive rooted tree, so it can sit near a path, a driveway edge or a service line without lifting them.
• Slow and undemanding. It takes many years to reach full size, which means no constant reduction pruning and no tree that outgrows the block.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single specimen on a lawn or at the end of a sightline earns its place, particularly where afternoon light can come through the autumn foliage.

Smaller gardens. Slow growth and calm roots make it one of the few genuinely large leaved deciduous trees you can use on a suburban block.

Light shade. The spreading crown throws dappled shade over a seat or a courtyard in summer, then lets the winter sun back through.

Growing Persian witch hazel in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the strongest colour. This is a tree for cool temperate and warm temperate gardens, and it is properly frost hardy. Where winters are genuinely cold the autumn display is deeper and lasts longer; in mild coastal gardens expect softer tones arriving later in the season.

Soil. It wants depth and drainage more than richness. On heavy clay plant on a raised mound and work compost through a wide bed rather than only the planting hole, then mulch 75mm deep clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers while the root system spreads. After that it is drought tolerant and needs water only in long dry spells. A balanced slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Take out crossing or rubbing branches in winter while the frame is visible, and decide early whether you want a low branched shrubby form or a clear trunk, because the tree sets its shape young.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in 400mm, 45L and 100L. The 400mm and 45L trees are young, with the branch framework already forming and a season or two of shaping ahead of them. The 100L is the choice when you want presence straight away. Ordered in winter the tree arrives bare of leaves, which is normal for a deciduous tree and not a sign of stress. Plants are delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, with advanced and large stock freighted at cost and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse trees and shrubs for autumn colour
• Trees with non invasive roots
• Compare the deciduous tree range
• How garden plants shift colour through the seasons

Common questions

Will it colour well in a mild climate?

It colours best in cool temperate gardens with a real winter. Warm temperate gardens still get a display, but the tones are gentler and arrive later.

Is it too big for a courtyard?

At about 7m by 5m eventually, it is a medium tree, but it gets there slowly. In a small courtyard give it 4m of clearance and be prepared to lift the lower limbs.

Can I plant it near paving?

Yes. The root system is not invasive, which is the main reason it is chosen over maples and elms for tight urban planting.

Does it need much water?

Only while it establishes. Once the roots are down it is drought tolerant and copes with dry summers, though watering in a heatwave protects the autumn display.