Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Oleaceae

Genus:

Chionanthus

Species:

Chionanthus pygmaeus

USDA Symbol:

CHPY2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Subshrub

Height:

300 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

mar,apr,may

Bloom Colors:

white

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fall Color:

yellow

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Native to Florida scrub habitats where fire is a natural component. Resprouts from rootstock following fire.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to Florida scrub habitats

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–180 days

Germination Time:

30–365 days

Notes:

Seeds exhibit double dormancy requiring warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Germination can be erratic and may take over a year.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI