Chionanthus virginicus - American Fringe Tree

The American Fringe tree is, perhaps, one of the best small flowering trees for garden and landscape use.  While it can be trained and purchased as a single stem tree, it's natural habit is multi-stemmed (which, for this tree, is honestly a better look). White, lacy, delicate appearing flowers - unlike that of any other tree - emerge in mid to late spring (usually after flowering cherries and crabapples are finished). Fringe trees are dioecious, which means they are typically male or female (although technically there can be a degree of nuance). Flowers on male trees tend to have longer petals which make them a little shower. Flowers on female trees are still beautiful though and produce small amounts of beautiful, olive-shaped blue fruits in late summer and early fall. These fruits are not messy and are usually consumed by local and migratory birds. Fall color is a reliably beautiful yellow-gold.

Fringe trees are native to parts of the mid-Atlantic (including southern Pennsylvania) and the Southeast. They are typically found in lower, moister areas in or along mature woodlands. Although moist, well-draining soil in part sun is ideal habitat, fringe trees are very adaptable and will grow in most garden conditions provided it's not extremely wet or dry. In fact, they tend to have a "fuller" and more even growth habit when planted in full sun. In addition to birds, Fringe trees also support the larvae of a number of pollinators, including the Fringetree Sallow as well as a number of Sphinx moths, making it a great plant to have in a functioning ecosystem.

Horticulturist Michael Dirr writes "“I would like to make the case for this as the national shrub [tree], for even Dogwood does not carry itself with such refinement, dignity, and class when in flower.” (Dirr’s Manual of Woody Landscape Plants)

If deer are a problem for you, we recommend you provide your tree with protection, such as a metal cage, until the tree is large enough to not be severely damaged.

Written by Plumline staff and not AI.