Plant DetailShow Menu

Fontanesia fortunei

Phonetic Spelling
fon-tan-NEE-zee-uh for-TOO-nee-eye
Description

Fontanesia is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the olive family (Oleaceae) native to China. The genus name commemorates French botanist Rene Louiche Desfontaines (1750–1833). The species epithet honors famed 19th-century Scottish plant hunter Robert Fortune (1812–1880), who collected plants in China.

Fontanesia will grow in nearly any consistently moist, well-drained soil in sun to partial shade. Once established, the plant has some drought tolerance and is winter hardy to USDA zone 6. 

In its native habitat, it is reported to grow to a height of 30 feet but It typically grows 10 to 15 feet tall in garden settings. It blooms with short panicles of white flowers in June–July. It is a tough, privet-like, durable shrub with glossy evergreen leaves ranging from 1 to 5 inches long that tolerates urban conditions and drought. 

Easily cultivated, this shrub can be used for screening or in a shrub border and cut branches will easily take root to form a hedge.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shrub#upright form#flowering shrub#easy to propagate#broadleaf#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shrub#upright form#flowering shrub#easy to propagate#broadleaf#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Fontanesia
    Species:
    fortunei
    Family:
    Oleaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Root Cutting
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    East Asia, Central and South China
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Samara
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Thin, flat disc 3/8 of an inch long with winged margins that are green maturing to brown.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    White four-petaled flowers in 1¼-inch long clusters of small blossoms from May to June or July. Individual flowers are about 1/6 of an inch long.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    One to five inch long and one inch wide green leaves are opposite, lanceolate shaped, with apex long acuminate and entire margins. The plant does not display fall color.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Description:
    Tetragonal (four angles and four sides) stems in cross section.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Design Feature:
    Hedge
    Screen/Privacy
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Urban Conditions