Chinese Fringe Tree Chionanthus retusus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chionanthus chinensis
- Chionanthus coreanus
- Phonetic Spelling
- kee-oh-NAN-thus re-TOO-sus
- Description
-
The Chinese fringetree is native to Korea, China, Taiwan and Japan. It is a member of the olive family (Oleaceae). This easy-to-grow deciduous tree displays a showy, white, clustered bloom that appears like a fringe each spring. The specific epithet, retusus, means “notched” and refers to the tip of the leaf, which appears notched.
Grow the Chinese fringetree in a location with full sun or partial shade. The lustrous, leathery foliage looks best when grown in some light shade (dappled sunlight), while the flowering is heaviest when planted in full sun. This tree tends to flower better in alternate years. While the male plant has showier flowers than the female, the attractive fruits that birds and some mammals use as a food source form only on the female plant. It is highly adaptable to various soil types and is fully hardy.
Sometimes grown as a multi-stemmed large shrub, Chinese fringetree can develop into a modest-sized tree, ranging in height from 10 to 20 feet. Under ideal conditions, it can reach heights up to 30 to 40 feet tall. The only real downside is that it is frequently damaged by deer. The flowers have both male and female parts but are functionally unisexual. The system often breaks down causing a few fruits to form on functionally male trees.
The Chinese fringetree is an excellent choice anywhere a small tree is needed. It is well suited for most Carolina landscapes, due to its adaptability to our varied soil types. Use as a specimen tree or in a mixed shrub border. Like many white-flowered plants, the fringetree looks especially pretty planted in front of a dark evergreen backdrop.
Insect Disease and other Pest Problems: Frequently damaged by deer. No serious insect pests or diseases. Leaf spot, canker and powdery mildew are an occasional issue. Borers, mites and scale are a minor issue.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Hydrangeas in the Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Serrulatus'
- 'Tokyo Tower'
Columnar habit/ vertical feature plant
- 'Serrulatus'
- 'Serrulatus', 'Tokyo Tower'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Serrulatus'
- 'Tokyo Tower'
Columnar habit/ vertical feature plant
- 'Serrulatus'
- 'Serrulatus', 'Tokyo Tower'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chionanthus
- Species:
- retusus
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Ideal for a rain garden and for fall color.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & S. China, Taiwan, S. Korea, Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- range of soil types
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- There are 0.5-inch dark blue fruit on female trees.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This plant has snow-white, fragrant flowers in 4" panicles at ends of shoots. This tree displays a showy, white, clustered bloom that appear like fringe each spring.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 3 to 8 inches long, opposite, leathery and lustrous. The foliage is bright green on the upper side, while the underside is a downy, whitish green. Young leaves have a serrate margin
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-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- The exfoliating bark makes this plant a great choice for a winter garden.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Can be grown as both multi-trunked or single trunk.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Pond
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Pollution
- Urban Conditions
