An attractive tree, appreciated for its bark and flowers. Introduced 1841.

Native to Azerbaijan and Iran. Parks and collections.

Monoecious. Insect-pollinated. Seed dispersal via ballochory. Suckers.

Medium (20m), often bushy and thicket-forming. Trunk short, fluted. Bark a patchwork of smooth cream-grey to orange-brown plates. Twigs grey-brown, hairy then glabrous; buds brown, scurfy, alternate. Autumn foliage turns yellow to red-purple, starting at the tips. Leaves ovate-obovate (6-10cm), glossy and leathery, with 5-7 veins after the basal three, entire or shallowly toothed, on a short petiole (2-6mm). Flowers bright red in stalkless clusters, November-February. Fruit a woody two-valved capsule that splits at the tip to eject its two seeds.

A very tough species, tolerating a wide range of soils, extreme cold, and drought. Can sucker profusely. Removal of sometimes ‘messy’ branches improves display of attractive bark.

No notable associations where introduced.

Generally healthy. May thrive in a warming climate.

Ornamental.