Fringe Tree – Chionanthus virginicus – Alt Name: Old Man’s Beard
Fringe Tree – Chionanthus virginicus Temple, NH
The fringe tree is a favorite of mine. In zone 5 it tends to blossom very late May or early June. It depends on how close you are to zone 6 or zone 4. We used this as a backdrop for graduation pictures. It timed perfectly for us in Southern New Hampshire in a colder part of zone 5. Many said this would not grow in the cold mountain climate of Southern NH, but it thrived. My fringe trees came from a nursery in Thetford, VT. Brown’s Nursery to be exact. The Browns grow these at their nursery which is borderline zone 4/5. Very hardy. It’s always good to get plants that you’re unsure will grow in your area from a nursery that actually grows the plant. Ordering on-line or going to a local garden center that buys from sources outside your native climate is sometimes risky, but not always. It really depends on the plant. Don’t expect the fringe tree to have the same growth patterns in New England as it would down south or in the Pacific Northwest. It will grow slower and be more susceptible to winter kill. Don’t be afraid to prune this tree after it flowers or after it goes dormant. Shape it as much as you like. It is a prolific brancher. I think this is one of most gorgeous flowering and especially fragrant shrub/trees you can add to your New England Landscape. A pallet of 6×6 landscaping timbers was accidentally dumped on top of the shrubbier of the two fringe trees that I had planted to eventually anchor a fenced garden gate. I abandoned the matching fringe trees after the incident. Although it did not die, it was crushed. I transplanted the remaining ‘stumps’ and root system to another area of my gardens. It came back, but it would have taken years for it to catch up to its mate.
Chionanthus virginicus - Fringe Tree
Hardiness Zones: 3-9
- Habit: Deciduous
- Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
- Site Requirements:Sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well drained soil
- Texture: The bark becomes ridged and heavy as the tree matures.
- Form: Spreading, open crown; variable shape between seedlings; often multi-stemmed
- Height: 12 to 20
- Width: 12 to 20′
- Leaf: 3 to 8″ opposite, simple leaf; yellowish green to brown fall color; not especially showy
- Flower/Fruit: Panicles of creamy white fragrant flowers suspended from branches in May or Early June; male flowers are more showy; dark blue fruit in fall
- Comments:
- Native; large shrub to small tree
- Adaptable to harsh climate
- Fruit attracts birds
- Tolerant to air pollution
- Flowers at an early age
- Nice specimen as a tree – not overwhelming to landscape
- Works well as border specimen mixed with perennials
- Pruning Note: Flowers are produced on 2nd year wood, so care must be taken when pruning to allow for the next year’s flowering
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My fringe tree is about 5 years old and has berries in the fall but for the last two years it has had very few flowers while the fring trees in the back yard blooms beautifully every year.This is the only tree I have that has berries and I have five in all. What can I do for this tree to make bloom more?It looks very healthy otherwise.
2nd email:
Thanks for answering. Yes actually I got my fringe trees at the same time.Actually me and a friend dug our trees out of the woods. what a job but we loved it.This tree is native here but hard to find but the paper mills had dozed it down and several come up from the downed tree.all were put in the ground and bloomed some the next year. They’re very hardy. This one treebloomed good but this year and last year the only blooms were very sparce. I’ve already questioned my husband about the pruning and denied it.lol do you think fertilizing would help it?One thing this tree faced the south and the other ones are on the north side.But its bloomed before.You probably think I;m nuts to worry over one little tree but I love trees and flowers and my best days are digging in the dirt.
Where are you located?
Some questions I need to ask before I can really help you diagnose the issue.
Town, State?
Have you pruned it and if so when?
Are the soil conditions different than the other fringe trees?
Does it get the same amount of sun?
Any sign of insects that might be getting at the buds?
Was it planted at the same time as the other fringe trees?
Has it grown at the same rate as the other fringe trees?
We’ll start with these questions and see if any of your answers might give me a clue as to a reason.
Just a note: My sister in Mass (wrote to me via this site and had no idea it was me) had a fringe tree that was not blooming much. Turned out her gardener was pruning it late in the fall after next season’s buds had formed. Hence he was kind of making sure it would not bloom. I cut the old blooms off after they die off completely.
Follow up:
I get your passion. Any tree or plant is worth saving and obsessing over. I do it all the time. My fringe tree comes from a grower in Vermont. They’ve been growing them for 40 years. What I’ve learned about fringe trees I learned from this nursery. I’ve even referred people to them for answers. The people that run the nursery are generational encyclopedias of information. If necessary I can refer you to them, but let’s start here. If I’m not confident about something I’m the first to look for answers elsewhere.
Ok…lets see if any of these things might be the ‘root’ cause.
Do you use a high nitrogen fertilizer near the tree?
Lawn fertilizers are high in nitrogen and will make for a strong root system on the tree (too much will burn), but will limit the flowering. Fertilize with an analysis of 5-30-5, ideal for flower production. Phosphorus is the middle number. Also if you are using a weed killer on your lawn you are jeopardizing your tree too. They contain broadleaf weed killers that could affect the broad leaves of the Fringe Tree.
Poor water supply to the roots could be an issue?
Water using a drip system around the rootball. Your rootball is expanding as the tree gets older. Watering near the trunk is not enough. Puncture the surface outward from the trunk in 6-12″ increments with some sort of pipe with a point that you can drive into the ground down 18″ – 24″ which will create avenues for the drip water system and the (high phosphorus flowering tree fertilizer) to get to the roots. Make the holes in a radial pattern out from the trunk. If the tree is 5′ high go out at least 3 feet. There is some formula for determining the root system of a tree. I think it has something more to do with the height and width of the tree. I like to water out at least the width of the tree crown and then some especially in a well established tree. New trees take 3-5 years to really establish an expanded roots system so keep that in mind.
Since you didn’t tell me exactly where you are I am going to assume from the fact that you told me that fringe trees are more or less naturalized in your area that north and south is not going to be a factor. Enough sun will be a factor. Probably at least 5 hours a day is a good number to work with. Rally sounds like that is not the issue.
Fertilizer, Water and Excessive pruning at the wrong time are probably the big 3.
Let’s start here and see if you get some better flowering. Your buds should be well formed. Does it look like there are a lot of them on the tree? Fertilize like I mentioned and see if that doesn’t bring on the bloom. Don’t forget to aerate the area around the tree so the fertilizer gets into the soil along with the water. Look for a liquid fertilizer. It will give you the speediest results. Follow directions carefully when fertilizing.
Hope all this helps.
Steve… send me a picture of your fringe trees ok? before they bloom and after. I’d really appreciate it.
I live in St. Louis MO area. We added 3 large American fringetrees to landscape. Were told they bloomed every spring with fragrant blossoms. They have never bloomed. They receive direct overhead sun most of the day, trees at a distance protect from direct south/west sun in summer. Soil is grainy, almost loose and I’ve amended with peatmoss and leaf mulch. They have grown like crazy and seem healthy. The company we had install them will not address the issue. I never ever have seen even berries on the plants as some of the forums I’ve read talk about. Any ideas or resources you can send me to? Thanks so much
I can’t remember if I responded to your inquiry. There are male and female fringe trees. That could be the root of the problem. Have yours sexed by a horticulturist and go from there. I hope this helps.