White Fringetree
Chionanthus virginicus
- Native to:
- United States
iNaturalist: © kbeza31979 (iNaturalist #113162752)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Genus:
- Chionanthus
- Species:
- Chionanthus virginicus
- USDA Symbol:
- CHVI3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 760 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
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
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–150 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–365 days
- Notes:
- Seeds exhibit double dormancy requiring warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Germination may take 1-2 years and is often erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
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
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C for 3 months, then place @ 4C for 3 months. Requires soaking 24-48 hrs; discard floaters.