The White fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) was introduced to Europe in 1736. The fringe tree is one of the last trees to leaf-out in spring; leaves are very large, elliptic and have smooth margins. The striking white flower clusters emerge soon after the leaves. The genus name come from the Greek word chion meaning “snow” and anthus meaning “flower” for the striking snow white flowers of this plant. The common name “fringe” refers to the fringe character of the long thin drooping petals of the corolla.

Specimen Provenance:

Common name: White Fringe Tree; Fringe Tree; Old Man’s Beard; Snowflower Tree; Grandsie-Gray-Beard

Species Origin: E. North America – New Jersey, Florida, Texas.

New Jersey Status: USDA Native

Habit: May grow as either a shrub or small tree (reminiscent of Saucer Magnolia). Broadly spreading tree, 20 – 33’ tall; 4 – 8 ‘ wide. Short trunk often multistemmed, as our specimen.

Habitat: Zone 4 -9; moist woods and riverbanks though uncommon in the wild. Usually an understory plant in dry or rocky soils.

Trunk/Stem: Bark gray and smooth but furrows with age.

Leaves: Deciduous, Simple, Opposite. Elliptical, 8” long 4” wide; apex tapered to a sharp tip; margin smooth or wavy but entire; glade glossy green above and underside paler green; leaves turn yellow in autumn.

Flowers: Usually dioecious but may be polygamo-dioecious; however in our plant the flowers are perfect with four thin long petals, two stamens and one pistil. In other plants the male and female flowers both with four to six ¾” to 1 ¼” long white, slightly fragrant slender petals on thin drooping pedicels; Flowers grow in clusters of three in an upright thyrsoid configuration. Male flowers may be larger than the female. The fruiting shoot is 4 -8 “ and the flowers hang loosely from them.

Fruits and seeds: Fruit an egg-shaped, deep blue berry or drupe, ¼” diameter, sometimes glaucous; ripens in Aug-Sept; eaten by birds.

Introduced to Europe in 1736. As an ID characteristic the fringe tree is one of the last trees to leaf-out in spring; leaves are very large, elliptic and untoothed. The striking white flower clusters emerge soon after the leaves.

The genus name come from the Greek word chion meaning “snow” and anthus meaning “flower” for the striking snow white flowers of this plant. The common name “fringe” refers to the fringe character of the long thin drooping petals of the corolla.