Common Name:

white fringe tree

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Chionanthus virginicus

Family:

Oleaceae

Form:

tree

Size:

10-20 (30) ft tall by 8-15 (20) ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial; lifespan >50 years (Nelson)

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

blue-black

Phenology:

deciduous; flowers emerge before leaves in spring, and leaves fall early in the fall

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Specimen tree where a small drought-tolerant tree is desired.

Considerations:

Flowers and leaves emerge late in the spring and leaves fall early in the fall. When not blooming, it's not outstanding.

Availability:

Propagation:

Stratified seed. White fringe tree is dioecious, so both a male and female tree are needed to produce seed.

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Short very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

acidic (pH 5.5-6.5)

Suitable to Grow In:

8A, 8B, 9A, 9B

Wildlife:

Fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals.  

 Larval host for rustic sphinx (Manduca rustica), waved sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa), and laurel sphinx (Sphinx kalmiae).

Native Habitats:

Moist hammocks, but adaptable to many situations

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Emerald ash borer is a problem in the northeast, and if it reaches Florida, it would likely be lethal to this species.