The fringe tree diagram ( Chionanthus virginicus ) also call old man ’s beard is a deciduous shrub or small tree aboriginal to the savannas and lowland of the northeasterly and southeastern United States , from Massachusetts south to Florida , and west to Oklahoma and Texas .

A fringe tree diagram uprise to a height of 12 to 20 foot , though in idealistic circumstance , it might reach up to 30 feet ( 9 meter ) . Its spreading is normally about the same as its height , giving it a broadly rounded to oval embodiment . The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are suitable for acquire in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant life hardiness zona 3 through 9 .

The leave-taking of the fringe tree are generally oval to elliptical in figure , with a pointed wind . They can sometimes look somewhat spear - shaped . The leaves have a unruffled grain on the upper side , while the underside might be slightly paler and can have a bit of pilosity , especially along the veins . During these seasons , the leaves are a lustrous , dark green on the upper airfoil . In the fall , the leaves turn a promising xanthous color , although this can vary with some trees usher less vibrant fall colors depending on climate and ground conditions .

Each flower has four slender , elongated petals , giving them a outskirt - like or fringe coming into court , which is why the tree is sometimes called “ honest-to-goodness man ’s whiskers . ” . The petals can sometimes number more or less than four but four is distinctive . The flush are in general everlasting bloodless , although they might have a slight fleeceable or yellow-bellied tone when they first open up . item-by-item flowers are comparatively small , but they cling in retentive , loose , panicles ( clusters ) that can be up to 4 to 8 inch .

Fringe tree bloom in later spring to early summer , often around May or former June , depend on the geographical location and mood . The blooming period can last for a couple of weeks . When in rosiness , the periphery tree seems almost draped in white , as if cover in snow or lacing , which contrasts attractively with its dark green foliation during the bloom time of year .

The flowers are attractive to pollinators like bee and butterflies . After pollenation , the distaff trees ( if a manful tree is nearby for cross - pollination ) will develop small , olive - like fruits have it off as stone fruit . These drupes mature to a coloured , grim - disastrous color in late summertime to fall , and they are enjoy by birds , which aid in seed dissemination . When immature , the fruits are green . As they mature , they turn to a dismal downhearted or purple - Joseph Black chromaticity , often with a waxy bloom . Fruits mature in later summertime to early fall , usually by September or October , bet on the local climate .

The fringe tree is considered to have a slow to temperate increase rate . On mediocre , you might ask it to grow less than 12 inches ( 30 centimeter ) per twelvemonth . In well - asseverate garden setting , a interference fringe tree diagram might live for 30 to 50 years or even longer . It might take around 10 year for a fringe tree to start bloom significantly if grown from semen , though graft or container - develop plants might flower rather .

Due to their unique show and sweetness , outer boundary tree blossom make the plant a darling for garden , park , and as a specimen Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in landscapes . They ’re particularly valued for ply late spring interest after many springtime bulbs and other blooming trees have finished . The flowering branches can be cut and used in floral arrangements , although they might not last as long as some other cut flower .

When plant bang trees with an interest in yield production for wildlife or aesthetic reasons , it ’s important to ensure you have both male and female trees , although many nurseries might not specify the sex . However , some cultivated smorgasbord might be pick out for their flowering without an accent on fruiting . If you grow both a male and female tree , flowers on the female Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree produce small fruit resembling bluish - calamitous olive that draw birds and wildlife .

If desire for aesthetic or outer space reasons , pruning can be done after flowering but before yield set to control size or shape without recede the twelvemonth ’s yield crop ; however , this is n’t usually necessary as the tree uphold a manageable size of course .

Types of Fringe Trees

Chionanthus virginicus

Chionanthus retusus

American outskirt Tree are generally intrepid in USDA zone 3 - 9 , while the Chinese fringe Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree might be slightly less hardy but still desirable for many temperate regions . Both make excellent ornamental trees for gardens due to their flowered display , but the choice between them might derive down to specific artistic preferences , like leaf shape or inflorescence use , or the desire for aboriginal species support with C. virginicus .

Cultivation of Fringe Trees

localization

Planting

lachrymation

Pruning

generation