Fringe Tree

Fringe Tree

Chionanthus virginicus

Oleaceae (Olive Family)

▲ ▼ small trees

▲ ▼ flowers

▲ ▼ flowers

▲ leaves

Location on campus: in triangle bed northeast of Hill Hall

Chionanthus virginicus: White Fringetree, Grancy Gray-beard, Old-man’s-beard

• leaves opposite, simple, deciduous, oblong to obovate with entire margins; 3-8" long and 1/2 as wide; dark green and shiny above, pale and pubescent underneath
• stems stout, green to brown, usually glabrous but may be pubescent when young
• bark gray, ridged and furrowed on older trunks
• grows 25-30' tall and wide; may be a shrub or small tree with spreading, open habit
• flowers dioecious, white, 4-petalled in drooping axillary panicles in mid to late spring; fruit is a dark blue droop
• prefers full sun to part shade and deep, well-drained, fertile, moist, high-organic matter soil
• slow growth rate