Chionanthus - Fringe Tree

Chionanthus
A genus of deciduous small trees or shrubs that are native to the eastern U.S. They are easy to grow, generally pest and disease resistant ( powdery mildew can occur but is rare ) and can be reproduced from seed sown during autumn. May take 2 years to germinate.

Chionanthus pygmaeus ( Pygmy Fringe Tree )
An attractive, medium-sized shrub, reaching only 4 x 4 feet on average, that is native to sand scrub in central Florida. It is endangered in the wild. The largest on record is only 13 x 7 feet.
The narrow leaves, up to 4 inches in length, are leathery, glossy deep green.
The flowers in April are white and borne on abundant clusters.
They are followed by berries up to 2 inches each.
Hardy north to zone 5 ( should be tested as far north as zone 3 ). It requires dryish, very well drained soil and prefers partial shade. This Fringe Tree is salt water tolerant.

* photos taken on Aug 24 2017 @ U.S. Botanic Garden, Wash. DC.

* photos taken on Oct 22 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photos of unknown internet source

Chionanthus retusus ( Chinese Fringe Tree )
An attractive, moderate growing, medium-sized ( rarely large ), deciduous tree. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 5 feet; 10 years - 20 x 20 feet ( average ); largest on record - 100 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 2.5 feet. The largest known Chinese Fringe Tree in the U.S. has already grown to 45 x 30 feet in Montgomery County, PA. Larger trees are known in central & eastern China and Japan where it is sometimes planted as a street tree.
The smooth-edged, oval leaves, up to 8 x 4 ( rarely over 5 x 2.5 ) inches, are glossy deep green above, downy white beneath. The foliage appears late in spring and turns golden-yellow during autumn.
The white flowers, up to 1 inch, are borne in clusters, up to 4 inches, during mid spring.
They are followed by deep blue, egg-shaped fruit, up to 0.7 inches in length.
The corky and deeply-grooved bark is beige to bright brown.
Thehe Chinese Fringe Tree prefers moist, neutral to alkaline, well drained soil. It is both disease resistant and very drought, heat, clay soil and pollution tolerant. Prefers hot summers and thrives in sun or shade. Fibrous roots make this tree easy to transplant. Hardy zone 4 to 8 however only seed originating from the coldest parts of the range will grow in zones 4 and 5. 'Arnold Pride' is rated hardy to -25 F.

* photo taken @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC on Feb 2009

* photo taken in Wilkes-Barre, PA

* photo taken on March 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum


* photo taken on April 11 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum

* photos taken on April 18 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.








* photos taken on May 1 2010






* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD


* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on May 13 2015 in Pikesville, MD

* photos taken on Maryland Horticultural Society garden tour, Clarksville

* photo taken on Apr 24 2016 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on Apr 23 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Mar 26 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash, D.C.

* photos taken on Aug 30 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photo taken on May 6 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Arnolds Pride'
Rapid growth and a strong central leader. It is also self-fruitful unlike the species. Vase shaped in habit; it can reach up to 20 x 20 feet in 10 years.

* photos taken on June 1 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 15 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 3 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 19 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Tokyo Tower'
Upright, columnar in habit, reaching up to 14 x 5 feet in 6 years, to 25 x 10 feet in 10 years, eventually taller.
The deep green foliage turns to bright yellow during autumn.

Chionanthus virginiana ( American Fringe Tree )
A moderate growing, small, deciduous tree, native to moist forests of the eastern U.S. ( from Missouri to New York State; south to eastern Texas to central Florida ). It can be very variable in growth depending on siting and some records include: growth rate - 4 feet; 10 years - 10 x 8 feet; 20 years - 40 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 inches; largest recorded - 50 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 3.5 feet. Large trees can be photographed on the grounds of Mount Vernon Historical Park near Alexandria, Virginia. One of the largest American Fringe Trees ever recorded is in Mercer County, New Jersey.
The oblong leaves, up to 8 x 4 inches in size, are smooth, glossy deep green above; finely-downy, light green beneath. This is one of the last plants to leaf out in spring. The foliage turns to golden yellow late in autumn.
The small, narrow-petalled, fleecy, fragrant, white flowers are densely clustered into large drooping panicles up to 10 inches long forming mop like heads that cover the plant in late spring. The flowers last up to 3 weeks. The Fringe Tree does not flower well in areas of cool summers.
There is a very rare pink flowered form that has been reported.
The flowers are followed by bloomy, deep blue, grape-like fruits, up to 0.7 inches in length. They ripen in September.
Fruiting is better when planted in groups. Only female plants produce the berries.
The bark is red-brown and smooth becoming furrowed with age.
The shoots are light green, thick and downy at first, later becoming orange or light brown. The buds are light brown and ovate
Prefers deep, fertile, moist, acidic, well drained loamy soil however is tolerant of less ideal sites and is even tolerant of urban conditions and pollution.
Many 2 to 3 year old plants are weak and need to be pruned to the ground in March to get strong shoots.
As with C. retusus; this tree can be reproduced from seed sown as soon as it is ripe in the fall. The seeds should be soaked for 24 hours before sowing. Germination may take up to 18 months and the seed should be protected from winter frost.
Hardy zones 3 to 9 ( tolerating as low as -35 F ) in full sun to partial shade on fertile, moist, well drained soil. Tolerant of pollution and harsh climates as it has survived at Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa, Ontario.

* photo taken on April 18 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo of unknown internet source




* photos taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.






* photo taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on August 3 2010 @ University of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario

* photos taken on June 14 2012 in Ellicott City, MD
* photos taken on July 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park

* photos taken on Oct 31 2013 @ Hampton Ntl. Historic Site, Towson, MD

* photos taken on May 21 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 21 2014 @ Hampton Ntl Historic Site, Towson, MD

* photo taken on May 25 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on on Aug 23 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 28 2015 in Columbia, MD

* historic archive photo

* photo taken on May 9 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 24 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 14 2016 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken on May 24 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Jul 9 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Mar 15 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 21 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 21 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 11 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 9 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 18 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 3 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 6 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Emerald Knight'
A male form that is vigorous and very tree like in habit reaching a maximum size of 30 x 25 feet in only 10 years.
The leathery foliage is extremely glossy, dark green, very long ( up to 9.5 x 4 inches ), turning to an attractive golden yellow and lasting very late.
The fragrant, fleecy, white flowers are profuse in large clusters.
Hardy zones 4 to 9

* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park

* photos taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* photos taken on May 28 2017 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on June 7 2019 @ Univ. of Maryland, College Park

* photo taken on Aug 9 2020 in Columbia, MD

'Prodigy'
More vigorous with glossier, deeper green foliage.

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Serenity'
A vigorous form that is strongly tree-like, reaching up to 20 x 20 feet, with a dense , broad crown.
The deep green foliage turns to yellow during autumn.

* photos taken on June 29 2024 in Columbia, MD