Woody > Chionanthus > Chionanthus retusus > Chionanthus retusus
Chionanthus retusus
Origin: Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan The species was brought to North America in the mid 1800’s.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Chinese Fringetree are beautiful shrub or small tree that should be appreciated for their adaptability. Being able to withstand pollution and a variety of soil types makes this shrub or small tree accessible to novice gardeners with an eye for a magnificent flower display with a wonderful honey scent. I would recommend this plant to anyone looking for a show, some wildlife attraction and a generally hardy ornamental.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Oleaeceae |
| Genus |
| Chionanthus |
| Species |
| retusus |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous), Shrub (deciduous) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 6 - 10 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 5 - 9 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H2 - H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-10) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 14 |
| Height |
| 4.5 - 7.5 m |
| Spread |
| 3 - 5 |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Chinese Fringetree are known as a specimen plants with attractive bark and shimmering flowers. They are fairly adaptive to a number of growing conditions, making them easy to grow. They are often hard to find in nurseries but offer a focal point with features to attract all of the senses, if they can be found. They are also pollution tolerant, making them a viable option for city planting. The trees are dioecious in nature, meaning there are male and female plants. |
| Landscape |
| Chinese Fringetree are commonly used in natural planting settings. They can be used well in borders and groupings as they pull off a dramatic display of flowers. They will also grow well when situated near water features such as streams or ponds. Because this plant is pollution tolerant, it can be used in a variety of urban settings, such as a small street tree. |
| Cultivation |
| Fringetree are generally hardy but are prone to damage from late frosts. They prefer hot temperatures and like to be planted in full sun to partial shade. They prefer moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil but can tolerate a range of soil types such as clay, sand or loam. They can tolerate both slightly acidic and alkaline soils as well. Chinese Fringetree are moderately drought tolerant, only needing a few thorough drinks over the summer and are pollution tolerant, making them well adapted to urban landscapes and fairly low maintenance. They were introduced into cultivation in 1845. |
| Shape |
| Chinese Fringetree are a rounded or vase shape, or they can be spreading, depending on how they are pruned. They can also be a multi-stemmed shrub but they are often seen as a single trunk in cultivation. The crown of the tree has a symmetrical uniformity and is columnar in form. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| ID Characteristic |
| Chinese Fringetree are known for their fragrant, shimmering, white flowers and purple-blue fruit that follows. They are also known for their furrowed bark that is exfoliating. |
| Pests |
| Chinese Fringetree doesn’t experience any serious problems but they can be susceptible to emerald ash and lilac borers, leaf spot, mites, powdery mildew, or canker. The tree can also be damaged by deer. It is important to note that compared to its relative C. virginicus, Chinese Fringetree are far less hospitable host for borers. The plant can also suffer from Phytophthora root rot from poor drainage. |
| Habitat |
| Chinese Fringetree adapts to a number of different soil conditions, making their range quite variable. They are found on stream or river banks in the wild in the temperate climates of Eastern Asia. They can grow to be 9-12 m in their natural habitat. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The bark is furrowed, fissured, and exfoliating with a grey-brown colour, exposing a brighter, red-brown where the bark is peeled back. The lenticels are pronounced on this species. The small shrub or tree is usually multi-stemmed but is commonly trained to be one trunk with drooping branches. Chinese Fringetree are known to have strong branches that do not need to be pruned often. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| The buds of the Chinese Fringetree are very pointed with bud scales that are contoured and pointed as well. The buds are brown in colour and are insignificant in size. Two scales cover the bud on the outside, which is 4-sided. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaf is a bright green, glossy, entire, obovate shape with pinnately arranged veins. The leaves are arranged in an opposite fashion with blade lengths being approximately 5-10 cm. The leaf is also leathery in texture and turns a golden yellow or orange in the autumn but is not showy. Leaves on young plants have serrate margins and it is important to note that leaves can vary in shape from obovate, to ovate or completely round. |
| Flower Description |
| The flowers of Chinese Fringetrees are white and shimmery with a strong honey scent, attracting many pollinators. The flowers have 4 petals, growing in terminal, stiff panicles that are 10-18 cm long and look like they are fringe. The tree begins to flower at an early age and the flowers appear on current season’s stem growth, after the leaves appear. You will see the best performance of blooms when the plant is in full sun. |
| Fruit Description |
| Chinese Fringetree has a single seeded, dark blue-purple drupe fruit in late summer, following hot conditions. The fruit is fleshy and round, about 1.5- 4 cm and is really attractive to birds but offers a litter problem. Fruit generally occurs on female plants from late August to October. |
| Colour Description |
| Chinese Fringetree are known for their white flowers and bright green, glossy foliage. The leaves turn a golden yellow or orange colour in the autumn which contrasts nicely with the blueish-purple fruit bore by female plants. This is all nicely complemented by the grey-brown, exfoliating bark. |
| Texture Description |
| Chinese Fringetree are medium and coarse in texture with leathery leaves. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Propagation |
| The most common method of propagation is by seed. The fresh seed should be propagated as soon as it is ripe and germination can take up to 18 months as there is a double dormancy period. The seeds should be planted in the autumn with the shoot appearing during the second spring after. Propagation can also be achieved through cuttings or layering, but has not generally been successful. |
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