The Persian Ironwood Tree - Parrotica Persica looks like a great tangled 'birds nest' of a tree and is a must in any lowland arboretum or landscaped garden. It can form a billowing domed 6-8 metre high mass of leathery green foliage that looks best in autumn where every colour can be found somewhere on the plant, from glossy purple to red, orange and creamy gold. In mid-winter the dark twigs have tiny scarlet 'flowers' which consist, so far as the eye can see, of  tight bundles of red stamens.  It was introduced to Britain in 1840.