Chionanthus virginicus
White Fringe Tree
Oleaceae
Plant Specifics
Form: | Tree | |
Size: | 10-20 (30) ft tall by 8-15 (20) ft wide | |
Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
Flower Color: | White | |
Fruit Color: | NA | |
Phenology: | Deciduous | |
Noted for: | Aroma, Fragrance, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage |
Landscaping
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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Propagation: | Stratified seed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Availability: | Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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(Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Short very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: | 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: | Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soil or other substrate: | Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soil pH: | Acidic |
Ecology
Wildlife: |
Fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals. | |
Insects: | Larval host for rustic sphinx (Manduca rustica), waved sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa), and laurel sphinx (phinx kalmiae). | |
Native Habitats: | Moist hammocks, but adaptable to many situations. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A 9B

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
General Comments: | Emerald ash borer is a problem in the northeast and if it reaches Florida, it would likely be lethal to this species. |