Fringetree, an Enchanting Native Tree for the Home Landscape

Each spring, landscapes come alive with colorful blossoms from the ground up through the trees. The blooms may be short-lived but create a powerful aesthetic for the home garden, plus function as food sources for pollinators. An outstanding flowering tree is the native fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). The genus name, Chionanthus, comes from the Greek chion meaning snow and anthos meaning flower. When you see a fringetree in full bloom, you understand why. A cascade of snow-white blossoms in late spring covers the canopy. Drifting down from each paniculate flower is a light and sweet lilac-like fragrance. The experience is truly enchanting for people and pollinators alike—one that will encourage you to plant this flowering tree in your home garden.

Fringetree belongs to the olive family, Oleaceae, including olive, lilac, ash, and forsythia. Common names for fringetree include old man's beard, flowering ash, grandfather graybeard, and white fringetree. A small deciduous multi-stemmed tree, fringetree reaches heights of 12 to 20 feet as an ornamental, up to 30 feet in the wild. The fringetree does take its time to achieve these heights, growing an average of 6 to 10 inches yearly. The fringetree has steady growth in its first years with alternate branching and an ordered shape. As the tree ages, the branches become irregular—twisting and turning to create a unique structure. Its range is from Missouri east to New Jersey and Florida, within USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Fringetree prefers moist areas and habitats such as along streams and low slopes.

Since it is in the same family as the ash tree (Fraxinus spp.), fringetree may be bothered by the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). However, no conclusive studies have been conducted to date. It has some susceptibility to scale insects when grown under drier conditions. Siting the tree in the right place and proper tree planting procedures will ensure that the fringetree has a successful start. Less-stressed plants are not as vulnerable to insect pests.  

This species is dioecious, meaning that its female and male flowers are borne on separate plants. Both female and male fringetrees bloom, though the male flowers have longer petals and thus are a bit showier. The flowers are arranged in panicles, meaning that there are several on each stem. The flowers form clusters 4 to 8 inches long, contributing to the cascading effect. Blooming later in spring than most flowering trees, fringetree flowers mid-late May here in southwestern Pennsylvania, in zones 5 and 6. The female flowers, if fertilized, will produce dark blue olive-like fruits that are a nutritional food source for songbirds and small mammals. Leaves are dark green, simple, wide, oblong, and up to 8 inches long. They are not showy like the flowers but turn a lovely yellow in the autumn.

In the landscape, site your fringetree in average to moist, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 7.0. The fringetree will grow in partial shade to full sun. For prolific blooms, choose full sun; for brilliant autumn color, part shade is best. It is moderately deer resistant and can tolerate clay soil and some drought. Nurseries rarely identify fringetrees as male or female. There are two male cultivars available. 'Emerald Knight' has dense, dark green leaves and produces an abundance of flowers that give the tree an appearance of a nebulous cloud. 'Spring Fleecing' is a small variety with narrower leaves but plenty of flowers.

Fringetrees work well in native plant groupings in the sun or shade. In sunnier locations, contrast the white flowers with colorful spring-blooming perennials like wild blue indigo (Baptisia australis) or columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). For shadier spots, select some late-blooming spring ephemerals and groundcovers for under the fringetree, such as dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), or woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata). It can also hold its own as a specimen tree. If you enjoy spring-flowering trees, fringetree is a must to include for your home landscape in sun or shade. It will not disappoint, bringing enchantment to you and your garden visitors for many years.