American Fringe Tree

Native to the SE of the USA, and rather rare in Ireland, Chionanthus virginicus is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub or small tree, of average vigour, with a spreading habit and scaly, reddish-brown bark. The ovate leaves are deep, glossy green, a wonderful foil for the flowers. In June and July, this shrub carries panicles of delicate, airy, fringe-like, lightly fragrant, pure white flowers, sometimes followed, after hot summers, by blue-black berries on female trees.  American fringe tree is a healthy tree, and needs little pruning, but lower branches can be removed to encourage a tree-like habit. Deserves to be better known and grown.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Fertile, moist but well-drained, acid soil
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: Summer, autumn
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 10’ (3m)  Spread: 10’ (3m) in 10-20 years 

Image 1 by F. D. Richards cropped, and licensed by CC BY SA 2.0
Image 2 by Plant Image Library cropped, and licensed by CC BY SA 2.0
Image 3 by sonnia hill cropped, and licensed by CC BY 2.0