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Oleaceae
Fringe Tree
Chionanthus virginicus
Old-world grace, modesty, lasting devotion.
- Family
- Oleaceae
- Genus
- Chionanthus
- Native to
- Eastern United States
- Bloom season
- Late Spring
- Type
- Deciduous shrub or small tree
- Height
- 3–6 m
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Rich, moist, well-drained
- Water
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- 3–9
- Lifespan
- Long-lived
Did you know
- The fringe tree is sometimes called 'old man's beard' or 'grancy graybeard' because its long fluffy white flower clusters look like a wispy beard hanging from every branch.
- Each flower has four extremely narrow petals up to 3 cm (1 inch) long, giving the entire tree a soft, fringed, almost cloud-like appearance when in bloom.
- The genus name Chionanthus means 'snow flower' in Greek — a perfect description of how the tree looks when fully covered in white blooms.
- It's a relative of the olive and lilac, and produces small dark blue fruits that birds love.
- Fringe trees are dioecious — male and female flowers grow on separate plants — and the male trees have showier flowers, but only female trees produce the fruits.
Color meanings
White
Quiet elegance