38 City Trees
Trees of Merit
Persian parrotia habit
Persian parrotia bark
Pondcypress habit
Pondcypress (Taxodium ascendens) is very similar to
its relative baldcypress in appearance but also in its
ability to tolerate extremes of wet and dry. New foliage
is upright and the fall color is redder than that of bald-
cypress. It also matures at a lower height and has a
narrower crown than its cousin.
2004 DBH and height at planting: 4 inches (10
cm)/14.5 feet (4.4 m)
2015 DBH and height: 4.5 inches (11 cm)/18 feet (5.5 m)
Rich Weber is the Horticulturist for the Indiana
University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) Physical
Plant-Grounds Department. Weber developed a tree
inventory with data on over 9500 IPFW campus trees
and designed and maintains the Native Trees of Indiana
River Walk and website.
In this second installment in a series, Weber shares
his observations and pictures of some medium- and
large-maturing non-native trees that he has found to be
particularly pleasing and functional. Weber says, "All are
low maintenance and generally require only minor prun-
ing of dead branches. None have significant disease or
insect problems. All survived the week of -15 F (-26 C)
temperatures in Fort Wayne (Zone 5b) last winter with
no damage."
Persian Parrotia (Parrotia persica) is on the smaller end
of medium trees and is low branched with an upright
tight form. It has exfoliating gray, green, white, and
brown bark. The new leaves emerge red/purple, then
turn dark green, and the fall foliage color is yellow/red.
Parrotia tolerates dry soils and is relatively pest-free.
2001 DBH and height at planting: 2.5 inches (6.4
cm)/6.5 feet (2 m)
2015 DBH and height: 7 inches (18 cm)/25 feet (7.6 m)
Medium (25 to 50 feet/7.6 to 15 m)
Persian parrotia bark
