Sight of fringe tree stops neighbors when in bloom
When my fringe tree is in bloom — its snow-white flowers hanging in a 6- to 8-inch long “fringe” from the branches — it makes neighbors stop and ask about this beautiful plant.
Chionanthus virginicus, as fringe trees are botanically named, may be small trees, trained to have single trunks, or multi-stemmed large shrubs, growing anywhere from 12 to 20 feet tall and wide.
They are native to the eastern U.S. where they are found growing along stream banks, on moist hillsides and in woodlands. In my garden, a fringe tree is planted in soil that has been liberally amended with organic matter. Although they reportedly prefer slightly acidic soil, my fringe tree has adapted quite nicely to my clay-filled, alkaline soil.
Fringe trees are not as easy going when it comes to soil moisture and are not drought tolerant. In summer during sustained periods without rainfall, plan to provide supplemental water. Be sure to mulch the soil to help it retain moisture.
Although fringe trees perform in both full sun and part shade, the most impressive show of flowers occurs in full sun. And let's face it, the main reason to plant a fringe tree is its unique and delightful, lightly scented flowers that bloom in late May and early June.
Fringe trees are dioecious, meaning they are either male or female. The flowers on male trees are larger and showier, but it is female flowers that produce pretty, dark blue berries in late summer. It is not uncommon, however, for fringe trees to have some perfect flowers, too. Perfect flowers have both male and female parts.
My tree must be male with some perfect flowers. I am fortunate to enjoy that magnificent flower fringe in late spring and later in summer be entertained by the birds who find the small number of berries produced delicious.
If fringe trees need pruning (and they rarely do), it should be done right after they finish flowering because they begin to produce buds for the following year's flowers soon after. Pruning done from late summer to early spring removes the buds for next year's blooms.
Fringe trees also add a touch of autumnal interest when its foliage turns yellow. It is pretty, but don't count on it to set your landscape aglow. The foliage is, however, a lovely backdrop for the fall-blooming perennials in one of my borders.
They are rarely bothered by insects or diseases and even grow without complaint when planted among the roots of black walnut trees.
Fringe trees offer many design options for the landscape. Plant one to soften the corner of a two-story home. Or plant one as an attention-getter in the front yard. A grouping of 3 to 5 fringe trees in a larger landscape would be stunning and provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. Mine is planted at the back of a long, deep perennial border. Another one might find a home near our pond where its flowers would be doubly beautiful reflected in the water.
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist, garden writer and speaker. She blogs at gardenwithdiana.com.