seeds of Fringe tree(chionanthus retusus)

I have planted some seeds according to advice by Michael Dirr ,keeping thrm warm for 5 months then cold for 5 weeks.The plan is to keep them indoors(70 to 80)degrees then outdoors in Feb. Has any one had any experience with this plant?

No direct experience. My Dirr says that C. retusus has essentially the same seed requirements as C. virginicus, which possesses a double dormancy and a dormancy is "fairly complex."

I suspect that your plan may meet the double domancy requirements if it is still cold enough in February. If no germination, it wouldn't hurt to cycle them one more time, just to see.

I have had sucess with C. virginicus, and they have taken forever.Seems that they were about two years in sprouting, and the cotaleden stayed for so long before it grew leaves, but it was so exciting, I would recomend doing it for the experiance.Mine are from 12-18 inches tall, and still in the pots.Did change the pots in the third year.I think they are growing faster now, or something, because the leaves are getting larger.I might plant some this spring.Mike