Fringe Tree Chionanthus virginicus
INTRODUCTION
It is hard to think of a more beautiful, small tree
than Fringetree when it is in full bloom. The upright oval
to rounded form adds dark green color in summer, bright white
flowers in spring. The pure white, slightly fragrant flowers,
emerging just as the dogwood flowers fade, hang in long, spectacular
panicles which appear to cover the tree with cotton for two
weeks. As with other white flowered trees, they look best when
viewed against a dark background.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Scientific name: Chionanthus virginicus
Pronunciation: kye-oh-NANTH-us ver-JIN-ih-kuss
Common name(s): Fringetree, Old-Mans-Beard
Family: Oleaceae
USDA hardiness zones: 3 through 9
Origin: native to North America
Uses: container or above-ground planter; wide tree lawns (>6
feet wide); medium-sized tree lawns (4-6 feet wide); recommended
for buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip plantings
in the highway; near a deck or patio; narrow tree lawns (3-4 feet
wide); specimen; sidewalk cutout (tree pit); residential
street tree
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region
to find the tree
DESCRIPTION
Height: 12 to 20 feet
Spread: 10 to 15 feet
Crown uniformity: symmetrical canopy with a regular (or smooth)
outline
Crown shape: oval; round
Crown density: moderate
Growth rate: slow
Texture: medium
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite; whorled
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: oblong; obovate
Leaf venation: pinnate; reticulate
Leaf type and persistence: deciduous
Leaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches; 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: yellow
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: white
Flower characteristics: pleasant fragrance; spring flowering; very
showy
Fruit
Fruit shape: oval; round
Fruit length: .5 to 1 inch; < .5 inch
Fruit covering: fleshy
Fruit color: blue; purple
Fruit characteristics: attracts birds; no significant litter problem;
persistent on the tree; showy
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: bark is thin and easily damaged from mechanical
impact; droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for
vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy; routinely
grown with, or trainable to be grown with, multiple trunks;
not particularly showy; tree wants to grow with several trunks
but can be trained to grow with a single trunk; no thorns
Pruning requirement: needs little pruning to develop a strong structure
Breakage: resistant
Current year twig color: brown; green; gray
Current year twig thickness: medium; thick
Culture
Light requirement: tree grows in part shade/part sun; tree grows
in the shade; tree grows in full sun
Soil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; acidic; occasionally wet; well-drained
Drought tolerance: moderate
Aerosol salt tolerance: none
Other
Roots: surface roots are usually not a problem
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding tree: tree has outstanding ornamental features and
could be planted more
Invasive potential: little, if any, potential at this time
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
USE AND MANAGEMENT
Dark green, glossy leaves emerge later in the spring than those
of most plants just as the flowers are at peak bloom. This
differs from Chinese Fringetree which flowers at the terminal
end of the spring growth flush. Female plants develop purple-blue
fruits which are highly prized by many birds. Fall color is
yellow in northern climates, but is an unnoticed brown in the
south, with many leaves dropping to the ground a blackened
green. The flowers can be forced into early bloom indoors.
The plant eventually grows 20 to 30 feet tall in the woods,
spreads to 15 feet, and tolerates city conditions well. But
trees are more commonly seen 10 to 15 feet tall in landscapes
where they are grown in the open. It forms as a multi-stemmed
round ball if left unpruned but can be trained into a small
tree with lower branches removed. Although reportedly difficult
to transplant, Fringetree can be successfully moved quite easily
with proper care. Could be used beneath power lines where no
pruning would be required. Fringetree looks best in a sunny
spot sheltered from wind. The foliage appears more attractive
when grown with several hours of shade but the tree blooms
best in full sun. Probably best overall with some afternoon
shade. A North American native commonly found in upland woods
and stream banks throughout most of the South, Fringetree prefers
moist, acid soil and will gladly grow in even wet soils. It
grows very slowly, usually 6 to 10 inches per year, but can
grow afoot per year if given rich, moist soil and plenty of
fertilizer. There is only one flush of growth each year. Chionanthus
pygmaea (Pygmy Fringetree) is native to central Florida
and is considered an endangered plant. It produces nice flowers
and grows to only eight feet tall.
Pests
Scale can be controlled with horticultural oil sprays. Mites are
pests in full sun locations.
Diseases
Leaf spots can be caused by several genera of fungi. Most years,
the leaf spots are not a problem and there is no cause for
control, but they can cause premature defoliation and spoil
fall color display. Powdery mildews of different genera may
attack Fringetree. Stem cankers can girdle stems.
By Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson
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