WSU Clark County Extension
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Chinese Fringe Tree

Scientific name: Chionanthus retusus
Taxonomy
Family:Oleaceae
Type:Deciduous tree
Native:NO
Plant Requirements
Zone:5 to 8
Sun:Full to partial sun
Moisture:Dry
Plant Characteristics
Height:20 ft
Width:15 ft
Bloom:Showy flowers
Bloom Time:May to June
Bloom Color:White
Additional Characteristics
Trees


Fruit

Leaves


Bark
Wildlife value

Poisonous
Description Chinese Fringe Tree is joy to behold. Its pure white fragrant flowers emerge in late May and hang in four-inch-long, spectacular terminal panicles. They appear to cover the tree with snowy white cotton for two to three weeks.

  Morphology:
This garden deciduous tree grows to 15’-20’ tall and spreads 10’-15’ across at maturity. Leaves are 2”-4” long with entire margins. Foliage is green during the summer and yellow in the fall.

Female specimens produce blue-black fruits in autumn.

  Adaptation
Widely adapted. This species needs full sun to perform its best. It forms a round ball if left un-pruned but can be trained into a small tree with lower branches removed. It is naturally multi-trunked and is usually found this way in nurseries but can be trained into a small, single-trunked specimen.

  Pests:
Generally pest free.

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For assistance, contact Dr. Charles Brun (brunc@wsu.edu), (360) 397-6060 7713
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