Fringe Tree (Old Man’s Beard)
Chionanthus retusus (OLEACEAE)
Planting and Growing Fringe Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow fringe trees (old man’s beard) in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and fruit of fringe trees (old man’s beard)
- Growing conditions for fringe tree (old man’s beard)
- When to plant fringe tree (old man’s beard)
- How to plant fringe tree (old man’s beard)
- How to prune fringe tree (old man’s beard)
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of fringe tree (old man’s beard)
- Landscape uses of fringe tree (old man’s beard)
- Pest and disease control for fringe tree (old man’s beard)
Growing Fringe Trees
Several cultivars of slow-growing, wide and spreading, dense, branching, deciduous shrubby trees, to 30 ft. (9 m) tall and wide, with deep green, textured, lance-shaped, broad, folded, pointed leaves, to 8 in. (20 cm) long, turning yellow in autumn, and with brown, tan bark. Late leafing in spring. Female trees bear edible, olive-like fruit in autumn that require curing prior to eating.
White fringe tree, Chionanthus virginicus, with white flowers, and Chinese fringe flower, Loropetalum chinense, with bright pink flowers, are related species with similar care needs.
Fringe Tree Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Many feathery, fragrant cream, white flowers, to 1 in. (25 mm) wide, in early summer, borne in dangling, lacy clusters, to 8 in. (20 cm) long, form oval, blue, purple, mealy fruit only on female trees in autumn, to 5/8 in. (16 mm) long, in clusters.
Flowers typically cover trees for 2–3 weeks, emerge after leaves and as nearby dogwoods’ blooms fade.
Best Climates
Fringe tree, Chionanthus retusus, and White fringe tree, Chionanthus virginicus, U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 4–9. Best with winter chill.
Chinese fringe flower, Loropetalum chinense, U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 7–9.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich–average. 6.0–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 15–20 ft. (4.5–6 m) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Allow soil surface to dry between waterings until established. Fertilize annually in spring until established. Avoid pruning. Propagate by cuttings, grafting, layering, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, backgrounds, containers, edgings, paths, walls in cottage, small-space gardens. The olive- or caper-like fruit is edible after curing as for olives, by soaking in 10% salt brine for 8–10 weeks. Female trees drop staining fruit, requiring maintenance; male trees are fruitless and have more prominent blossoms. Fruit attracts birds. Smog tolerant. Disease resistant. Scale susceptible.