White Fringetree

Chionanthus virginicus

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Oleaceae
Genus:
Chionanthus
Species:
Chionanthus virginicus

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
20-40 ft
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
apr, may, jun
Bloom Colors:
White

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Adita chionanthi, Ash Borer (Podosesia syringae), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Great Ash Sphinx (Sphinx chersis), lilac sphinx (Sphinx kalmiae), Rustic Sphinx (Manduca rustica), Waved Sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers riverbanks and swampy areas

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are sown in fall using a mechanical seeder

Establishment: Seeds are purchased from local people who collect within a 50 mile radius of the nursery. Fruits are borne in clusters, purple-black, each bearing a large single seed. Fruits mature from August to October. White fringe tree is found from New York to Missouri and south to Texas and Florida. It grows along limestone cliffs and bluffs, wooded riparian areas, and wet woods in southern Missouri. Seed sources are from south central Missouri.

Source: npn.rngr.net