Grown as a large shrub or small tree, the white fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) is a North American native with loads of lacey white flowers in spring and a sweet lilac-like fragrance that hangs in the air, wafting throughout the garden. However, you’re more likely to see this elegant woody plant in the wild or botanical gardens than in your neighborhood. Grow your own white fringe tree with the tips in this guide.
I. Appearance and CharacteristicsÂ
Chionanthus virginicus (white fringetree) is a tree native to the savannas and lowlands of the northeastern and southeastern United States, from Massachusetts south to Florida, and west to Oklahoma and Texas.
It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to as much as 10 to 11 meters (33 to 36 ft) tall, though ordinarily less. The bark is scaly, brown tinged with red. The shoots are light green, downy at first, later becoming light brown or orange. The buds are light brown, ovate, acute, 3 millimeters (0.12 in) long.
The leaves are opposite, simple, ovate or oblong, 7.5 to 20 centimeters (3.0 to 7.9 in) long and 2.5 to 10 centimeters (0.98 to 3.94 in) broad, with a petiole 2 centimeters (0.79 in) long, and an entire margin; they are hairless above, and finely downy below, particularly along the veins, and turn yellow in fall. The richly-scented flowers have a pure white, deeply four-lobed corolla, the lobes thread-like, 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters (0.59 to 0.98 in) long and 3 millimeters (0.12 in) broad; they are produced in drooping axillary panicles 10 to 25 centimeters (3.9 to 9.8 in) long when the leaves are half grown, in mid- to late May in New York City, earlier in the south.
It is usually dioecious, though occasional plants bear flowers of both sexes. The fruit is an ovoid dark blue to purple drupe 1.5 to 2 centimeters (0.59 to 0.79 in) long, containing a single seed (rarely two or three), mature in late summer to mid fall.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
White fringe trees prefer full sun to part shade, making them ideal for planting in urban lots. They will grow in part shade, but the flower production is minimal.
Temperature and Humidity
White fringe trees can handle a wide variety of climates, from exceedingly cold to hot in Zones 3-9. These plants thrive in the humid conditions of the South and Midwest.
Watering
Like many trees, once established, fringe tree has moderate water needs and will tolerate some drought.
Soil
Fringe tree prefers moist, well-drained soil with a pH between alkaline to neutral soil.
Fertilizing
Native to the eastern portions of North America, white fringe trees are adapted to native soils and do not require additional fertilizer. However, in areas with nutrient-depleted soils, such as long-established lawns, fertilizer spikes can be beneficial. Follow the product instructions.
Planting Instructions
As with most nursery-grown trees and shrubs, planting at the beginning of the growing season is usually best, but white fringe trees can also be planted in the fall due to their cold tolerance.
When planting a nursery-grown white fringe tree, dig a hole in well-draining soil as deep as the root ball and two to three times as wide. Place the tree in the hole and backfill it with the soil removed from the hole. Water thoroughly, pressing down on the soil to remove any air pockets.
Planting white fringe trees from seed is a process that can take up to two years for seeds to sprout even under ideal conditions. For best results, follow these steps:
- Soak clean seeds in water for 24 hours.Â
- Put the soaked seeds in moist fibrous sphagnum moss in a sealable plastic bag and put it in a refrigerator for at least three months for cold stratification. Check the moss every few weeks and re-moisten if needed.
- After three months, remove the seeds from the moss and put them 1/2-inch deep in moistened seed starter mix. Keep the soil evenly moist and under bright light. For additional heat and appropriate light levels, use horticultural heating mats and artificial lighting. Although some seeds may sprout the first year, it is likely that most of them won’t; they require a second stratification. After two or three months, remove any seedlings that begin to grow when their third set of leaves have grown in, potting them in small pots with well-draining soil. Place the ungerminated seeds in the fridge for another six months, keeping the soil moist throughout the process. Alternatively, leave seed trays outdoors over the following winter for natural cold-weather stratification. Protect seeds left outdoors from rodents and birds by covering them with wire or mesh.
- Repot seedlings in containers one size larger as they begin to outgrow their previous containers, and provide monthly doses of half-strength fertilizer for optimal growth. When a seedling reaches about 12 inches tall, transplant it to its permanent location.
Pruning
Pruning white fringe trees in their shrub form is not usually necessary other than to clean up broken or dead branches, but pruning the tree form can be necessary to maintain the upright, clean trunk or trunks.Â
Propagation
Both male and female plants are needed for pollination and fruit production. Harvesting seed from the fruit of an established tree is the best way to propagate white fringe trees. It doesn’t reproduce well by stem cuttings.
Harvest the fruit of the female tree when it turns purple in July to September. Clean the fruit pulp from the seeds and plant them outdoors in the fall, 1/2 inch deep, in a prepared bed of well-draining soil. Winter will supply the necessary cold stratification. Mark the seedbed, as the seeds won’t germinate the following spring but rather the spring after that.
Overwintering
During the winter, the fringe tree is a delicacy for rabbits and other wildlife. To protect the shrub or growing tree, create a fence formed from hardware cloth. This is similar to chicken wire, but with smaller holes.
The plant’s branches should be tied in toward the center, and a circle of hardware cloth placed around the outside. The base of the hardware cloth should be buried in soil or mulch. This protection should be installed late November and removed in mid-April.
Pests and Diseases
White fringe trees have few significant issues, but recent evidence suggests they are susceptible to emerald ash borers. Treatment for ash borers requires systemic controls and should be administered by an arborist or horticulture professional.
III. How to Get Fringe Tree to Bloom
The appeal of the fringe tree lies in its generous clusters of fragrant, fringed white blossoms, which appear in late spring after other spring-flowering trees have finished blooming. The fringe tree is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on different plants. The male flowers tend to be showier than female flowers, but both are lovely.
Each flower is composed of four long, narrow petals and occurs in drooping, 4 to 8-inch long clusters at the ends of the branches. When in full bloom, the delicate, airy-looking blossoms give the tree a cloud-like appearance. The flowers give off a delicate, sweet, spicy fragrance, making the plant all the more endearing in the spring landscape.
As with most flowering trees, the more sun the better if you are trying to maximize blooming potential.
IV. Types of Fringe Tree
- Chinese Fringe Tree, ‘Chionanthus Retusus’: from China, grows to about 20 feet tall. It’s not quite as wide spreading as ‘Chionanthus virginicus.’ Usually seen as a big, multi stemmed shrub but can be trained as a small tree with leaves 2-4 inches long. Pure white, fragrant blossoms in clusters to 4 inches long appear in late spring or early summer, 2 to 3 weeks before ‘Chionanthus virginicus’ comes into flower. This is a magnificent plant when in bloom, something like a tremendous white lilac (Syringa). Handsome gray-brown bark (sometimes golden on young stems) provides winter interest.
- Fringe Tree, Grancy Graybeard, ‘Chionanthus Virginicus’: Native to the South. Leaves and flower clusters are often twice as big as those of ‘Chionanthus retusus’; blooms appear a few weeks later. Lightly fragrant, greenish white flowers. This tree can reach 30 feet tall, but in gardens usually grows 12-20 feet high with equal spread. Habit varies from very shrubby and open to more treelike. Grows more slowly in the Upper South, where young plants can be used as shrubs for a number of years. In that zone, it’s one of the last deciduous plants to leaf out in spring.
V. Uses and BenefitsÂ
White fringetree is attractive and low-maintenance throughout the year, often chosen by gardeners for its late-spring blooms. It has an interesting overall texture that stands out, meaning it pairs well with finer-textured plants. It’s perfect for hedging and screening use, but it also makes an attractive accent. Gardeners will appreciate the light fragrance that doesn’t overpower the rest of the garden.
The dried roots and bark were used by Native Americans to treat skin inflammations. The crushed bark was used in treatment of sores and wounds.
