Chinese Fringe Tree Chionanthus retusus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chionanthus chinensis
- Chionanthus coreanus
- Description
-
What kind of plant is as tough as nails, has gorgeous foliage, snow-white flowers, and exfoliating bark? It’s the Chinese fringetree. Native to Korea, China, and Japan, this easy-to-grow deciduous tree displays a showy, white, clustered bloom that appears like fringe each spring.
Sometimes grown as a multi-stemmed large shrub, Chinese fringetree can develop into a modest-sized tree, ranging in height from 18 to 35 feet. Transplant this Asian native into 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. The only real downside is that is it frequently damaged by deer.
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 transplanted in front of a dark evergreen backdrop.
Insect Disease and other Pest Problems: Frequently damaged by deer.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Serrulatus'
- 'Tokyo Tower'
Columnar habit/ vertical feature plant
- 'Serrulatus'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Serrulatus'
- 'Tokyo Tower'
Columnar habit/ vertical feature plant
- 'Serrulatus'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chionanthus
- Species:
- retusus
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & S. China, Taiwan, S. Korea, Japan
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- range of soil types
- Dimensions:
- Height: 18 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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-
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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- There are 0.5-in. dark blue fruit on female trees.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- This plant has snow white, fragrant flowers in panicles at ends of shoots. This tree displays a showy, white, clustered bloom that appear like fringe each spring.
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-
Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 3-8 in. opposite, leathery, and lustrous.
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-
Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- exfoliating bark
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Native alternative(s) for Chionanthus retusus:
-
Chionanthus virginicus
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
-
Malus hybrids
-
Cornus kousa
-
Amelanchier x grandiflora
