Have a Fringe tree? How do you like it?

I would love to see some Fringe Tree pics and find out how you like yours? Do they bloom vey long? When not in bloom are they a pretty tree to have as a specimen tree? Anything you can tell me will be appreciated. I saw one while driving in my neighborhood yesterday, had seen another in bloom but did not realize how truly beautiful they are!

Here's a picture of mine from about four years ago. Often reported as slow growing, mine is about four or five times that big now. Well over my height (6'1") and at least as big around.

In my mind, American fringe tree is a one-trick pony. An absolutely great one trick, and one I would not be without, but I would hesitate to use it as a "specimen" tree. Foliage is a little coarse, form is highly variable but seldom outstanding, and fall color just a ho-hum yellow. Additionally, my experience is that it doesn't age that well either. As it gets larger, it gets a little annoying, except for that one week in May when it is a fragrant and joyous explosion of fleecy bloom.

The Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus), on the other hand, makes an outstanding specimen tree. While the flowers are not quite as showy as the American, they are still darned good. Foliage a little finer. Form a little better. And the bark exfoliates in the manner of Acer triflorum. Not a bad multi-season small specimen tree.

If you have the room (for either), try to buy at least three trees. Both species are dioecious, which means there are male and female trees. Unfortunately, nearly all fringe trees are seed-grown and come to the nursery unsexed, so you likely won't know if you are buying male or female trees. Hence the reason to buy three. In doing so, unless you are really unlucky, odds are in your favor of getting at least one male and one female. If you do, then the grape-sized blue fruit on the female trees is an additional ornamental feature.

Scott

This message was edited Mar 28, 2006 5:01 PM

I certainly share Scott's sentiments about this tree. The female could be considered a two trick pony, as the dark purple drupes are nice. I planted three as Scott has suggested, which are from 50'-70' apart. The males seem to flower much heavier that the female. It'll probably be close to two months before mine flower, so not much to show you at this point. The good news is they flower at a very young age (I believe precocious is the descriptive word). Mine are still quite small and have grown very slow, but I'm sure that's due in large measure to our artic-like climate. They seem to be fully hardy in z4, although I only planted them three years ago and we've had fairly mild winters during that time.

Maacky, Deer eat em?

Good question! I MUST know!

I think maybe three tricks. The foliage is clean and tough, and stays fresh-looking all summer. This photo is our male American fringe tree in bloom. The Chinese one is 8 feet tall but has not decided to bloom for us yet. My favorite here might be pygmy fringe tree. Mine is only about 16" tall thus far and is covered with huge masses of flowers every spring. Reminds me of the Bonsai/dwarfing discussion on the other thread, where the tree stays small but the flowers are full sized.

Guy S.

Deer were never too keen on eating mine, just occasionally nipping the end off a branch.

I disagree with Scott about the foliage. I think it is showy, being large and glossy ala magnolia.

Deer seem to leave them alone. However, it could be they've eaten their way through too many other plants by the time they reach the Fringe Trees.

Yes, I'm sure that's it, greedy little buggers.

The only regret about my Fringetree is that I planted in a spot with too much wind. The mature leaf is tough, but the young foliage invariably gets hammered on a windy day just as it emerges, then it looks chewed up all summer. I don't have a picture showing this clearly, but if you look carefully in this pic you can see some of the damaged leaves.

SB

The foliage on mine is fairly flat. I wonder if there is a lot of variation on the amount of foliage gloss? The leaves on mine rarely suffer any damage. Deer seem to leave it alone.

C. pygmeaus seems to be a really cool plant. I really like mine, even though it hasn't bloomed yet. Almost impossible to find in the trade. Guy, do you have male and female plants...and fruit?

Scott

This message was edited Mar 29, 2006 12:03 PM

I would really like to find one of the C. pygmea Chionanthus to try it for bonsai, but have never seen it listed anywhere.

I have a Chionanthus virginicus, planted in 98, just north of my redwood deer fence, so it is pretty much protected from south winds. But isn't very happy in my alkaline soil. Only bloomed for the first time last year, and from what Maackia said it is probably a male.

I did not know about planting three.

DonnaS

I have only one pygmy, unsexed, sorry.
(And you can't have it!!!)

Guy S.

I lost several to drought in the past few years but planted another little one last year and it appears my little unsexed baby might have made it. I really love the foliage on this plant and I too think it is specimen worthy. Since you all have posted photos of your nice big Fringe Trees, let me know if anyone wants to see my little Fringe Tree stick that is about 8" tall. I'd be happy to oblige.

Mine is just a 'baby' not much taller than I ( 5'), but I was soo tickled to see a 'fringe' on it last year.

http://pic16.picturetrail.com/VOL635/2413050/4863321/97018580.jpg

The resident deer graze all around it, and haven't bothered it. ( I sure hope I haven't jinxed it!)

Guy, guess I won't bother to beg you to send your pygmy to me since you already said NO. Do you by any chance remember where you got yours. Donna

Seed from Bok Tower Gardens.
Guy S.

This one is at Meyer's Plants and Pottery, a local nursery. The pic was with my cell phone so a little washed out. I do have 3 fringe trees about 3 years old and only one has bloomed, but I love them.

Sorry about this...I meant to start a new thread and accidentally posted here.

This message was edited Mar 30, 2006 1:05 PM

This message was edited Mar 30, 2006 1:07 PM

Ladyborg, here's a picture of a fringe tree that I took today while driving around. I am in zone 8b also. This one is in full sun.