Persian Ironwood is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 8, shrugs off deer and shrugs off dry spells. Its early spring flowers are a modest draw for native bees.
Zones
5-8
pH Range
5.5-7
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Persian Ironwood on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether persian ironwood actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score persian ironwood against your land's real conditions.
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What Persian Ironwood is
Persian Ironwood grows as a perennial and reaches around 30 feet at maturity. It blooms red in early spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Persian Ironwood
Persian Ironwood grows in USDA zones 5 through 8. Persian Ironwood does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 160 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-8
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
30 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
160+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Plant it right
Set persian ironwood in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Persian Ironwood prefers pH 5.5 to 7 (Growable Ground Plant Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — persian ironwood isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Persian Ironwood offers low value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Persian Ironwood thrives
Persian Ironwood is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–8·Where Persian Ironwood growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Persian Ironwood can grow in these states:
See if Persian Ironwood will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether persian ironwood actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Persian Ironwood in my zone?
Persian Ironwood grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Persian Ironwood?
Set persian ironwood out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Persian Ironwood need?
Persian Ironwood needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Persian Ironwood need?
Persian Ironwood prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7, on well-drained ground (Growable Ground Plant Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Persian Ironwood attract pollinators?
Yes — persian ironwood's flowers are a modest nectar source for native bees.
Is Persian Ironwood safe for pets?
Persian Ironwood is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)