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A Visit to Cistus Nursery

I rarely go to nurseries anymore since I work part-time at one and another reason being that I don't have much room for additional plants. When a garden fanatic runs out of room, the brain goes into overdrive, dreaming up ingenious ways to incorporate more plants. And another thing happens - a burning desire to obtain rare and unique plants. I've been moving plants around, a tricky process that has a domino effect. A plant is unhappy - it is getting too much shade or perhaps too much sun. There is a plant that did not get as large as you thought it would or it is just a slow grower and now it is hopelessly hidden behind a taller plant. Sometimes a plant is just a dud for reasons unknown (Rhododendron 'Golden Gate' anyone?). I find the plant in question a better home, but it means that another plant will have to be moved. And the merry-go-round continues to turn... However, for those plants that are to be discarded, a space opens up for a new one! I decided to move a Mou...
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Sycoparrotia semidecidua




This unusual tree sat unnoticed at Yard N' Garden Land for at least two years before I finally rescued it and brought it home. I had admired it for a long time but knew nothing about it and found very few details about it online. 

It is xSycoparrotia semidecidua - I have not seen a common name - and it is a cross between the Chinese Fighazel (Sycopsis sinensis) and Persian Ironwood (Parrrotia persica). As the Persian Ironwood is one of my favorite trees in the garden, this looked promising. 

During the growing season, the leaves are thick, dark green and glossy, very similar to the Ironwood. For me, the fall color has been bright yellow, but orange is mentioned in descriptions. The fall color arrived very late, well into November, and the yellow color has become brighter with time. The leaves are beautiful now, in early January, and brightens up the wooded border along the back fence. I have yet to see flowers, but they should appear after the leaves finally fall off in late winter (February or March). They are described as "red-brown" and adorn the bare branches.

We like to call this tree "The Norman Bates Tree" as an homage to my favorite film "Psycho" and it is indeed pronounced "Psycho Parrotia". 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Kris PetersonJanuary 9, 2024 at 9:13 PM

    I've never seen nor heard of this tree before, Phillip. Kudos to you for taking a chance with it. It's beautiful but I wouldn't want to try saying its name 3 times fast.

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2024 at 7:12 AM

    I love a good rescue story. Good for your.
    The "Semidecidua" part of the name suggests it may not shed all it's leafs...
    I'd be looking forward to seeing a photo of the blooms when they arrive.
    Chavli

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  3. tz_gardenJanuary 10, 2024 at 4:10 PM

    I've not heard of this before, either. What a great rescue. How nice the colorful leaves stay on so late into winter.

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