Chionanthus virginicus
White Fringetree

Family:

Oleaceae (Olive Family) 45

Genus:

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

Plant Type:

Tree 569

Growth Forms:

Upright 576

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 234

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 839

Flower Notes:

White (Slightly fragrant, fringelike, pendant, white 6-8" long and wide; flower panicles with strap-like petals occurring in spring before foliage)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Long, dark green leaves); Gold (Yellowish to golden-brown fall foliage)

Stem Notes:

Green to buff, brown to purple, glabrous or pubescent when young

Fruit Notes:

Blue (Egg-shaped blue fruits (on females only, needing a pollinator); usually gone by September because birds love them)

Ultimate Height:

12-20 feet

Ultimate Spread:

12-20 feet

Bloom Times:

Fruiting Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Prefers a moist, rich, acidic soil

Range:

New Jersey to Florida and Texas

Maintenance:

Low 275

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves are simple, entire, opposite to sub-opposite, narrow-elliptic to oblong or obovate-oblong, 3-8" long, glossy dark green above and paler and pubescent beneath (notably so on veins). Raised half-moon shaped leaf scars. Stems are stout with raised corky projections.

Ecological Functions:

Purdue Plant Doctor

Parts and Problems of Fringetree

Special Characteristics:

Pollution Tolerant 217

Additional Information

Dioecious with male plants showier in flower than females; plant a female if fruits are desired. Plants of known sex are not usually available unless selected in the flowering size. One of the last plants to leaf out in the spring.

Plant Photo Gallery

Shrub Habit

Bark

Emerging Foliage and Flower

Leaf

Fall Shrub

Mature Fruit

Fruit

Buds

Winter Habit

When Chionanthus virginicus has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

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Fruiting

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12 Chionanthus virginicus found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	ORIG_9486*A	PAO
2	2009_12561*A	HERL
3	ORIG_9485*A	PAO
4	2009_12560*A	HERL
5	ORIG_2690*A	BRWN
6	ORIG_2689*A	BRWN
7	2014_00132*A	HLAB
8	2009_10315*A	HIKS
9	2009_12562*A	HERL
10	2023_00706*A	KNOY
11	2023_00707*A	GRS
12	2023_00709*A	ABE

Other plants like this Chionanthus virginicus (White Fringetree)

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