Chionanthus retusus
Chinese Fringetree

Chionanthus retusus - Older fruits surrounded by fall foliage

Family:

Oleaceae (Olive Family) 44

Genus:

Chionanthus (Fringetree Old-Man's-Beard) 2

Plant Type:

Tree 556

Growth Forms:

Upright 537

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 5 233

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 792

Flower Notes:

White (Cymose panicles (2-3" long by 2-4" wide) of pure white flowers with strap-like petals; May-June)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Lustrous medium to dark green summer foliage); Yellow (Variable gold to yellow fall foliage)

Fruit Notes:

Blue (Drupes (0.5" long) are blue to blue-black, occuring late summer to early fall)

Ultimate Height:

15-20 feet

Ultimate Spread:

10-20 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Prefers a moist, rich, acidic soil and is intolerant of drought

Range:

Taiwan, China and Korea

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves (3-8" long by 1.5-4'" wide) are opposite, elliptic to oblong, and downy on the underside. Leaf apex is less distinctly acuminate when compared Chionanthus virginicus, and can sometimes be shallowly notched. Mature leaves are entire, but young leaves can be serrated. Flowers are terminal and occur about 2-3 weeks before C. virginicus. Bark is gray-brown and exfoliating.

Special Characteristics:

Flowering Characteristics 358

Pollution Tolerant 217

Additional Information

The Chinese Fringetree can be a large, multi-stemmed shrub or a small single- or multi-trunked tree. In late spring to early summer, Chionanthus retusus produces a beautiful show of pure, white, fringe-like flowers that are borne in clusters on branch ends. For optimal flowering, place in a full sun location. This species is dioecious and female plants produce very ornamental blue fruits that are attractive to wildlife. Plants of known sex are not usually available unless selected in the flowering size. This plant is tolerant of city conditions, including air pollution.