Spring Fleecing Fringe Tree

Chionanthus virginicus ‘Spring Fleecing‘

Other Names: Male Fringetree, Spring Fleecing Grancy Graybeard, White Fringetree, American Fringetree, American Fringe Tree, Old Man’s Beard, Sweetheart Tree

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b Find Your Zone

Shrub Type: Deciduous Flowering Tree

Height at Maturity: 15-20′

Width at Maturity: 10-15′, maybe 20′

Spacing: 22’+ for space between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Oval, Rounded

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: White

Flower Size: Small in upright panicles

Flowering Period: Spring

Flower Type: Fringe, male

Fragrant Flowers: Yes

Foliage Color: Green, Yellow fall color

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: –

Berry Color: –

Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun, we suggest at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for best flowering

Water Needs: Average; Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sandy, Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist but Well Drained; tolerates dry soil when established

Soil pH: 4.5 – 6.0 (Acid to Slightly Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Butterflies, Birds, Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Heat, Insect

Description

When in full bloom, this magnificent tree will stop passersby in their tracks! Chionanthus virginicus ‘Spring Fleecing’ is an award-winning male selection of our North American native Fringe Tree, what many call Grancy Graybeard because of its showy and frothy clusters of white, feathery flowers that resemble the white whiskers in Santa’s beard. Both male and female fringe trees have showy fragrant flowers, but the flowers of this non-fruiting male will pollinate flowers on female trees so they produce their desirable edible fruit. The shedding gray-brown bark on the trunk and older branches provides interest in the garden during winter. At 15 to 20 feet tall when all grown up, Spring Fleecing is prized for its extremely heavy bloom, even at a young age, great form, and narrow, glossy dark forest green leaves that turn yellow in fall, all which make it a strikingly beautiful specimen tree in sunny to lightly shaded landscape and woodland borders or around outdoor sitting and living spaces. A must-have native in every garden where it will grow!

Note: Our Spring Fleecing Fringe Trees are grafted, single-trunk specimens.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 15 to 20 feet tall and equally as wide over time, the Spring Fleecing Fringe Tree is ideal for use as a focal point specimen in sunny top lightly shaded landscape and woodland borders. Where space allows it can be planted in groupings. A fine addition to native plant gardens, white theme gardens and cottage gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 22 feet for space between trees

Growing Preferences

The Spring Fleecing Fringe Tree is adaptable and easy to grow in moist but well drained acidic soil of average fertility in full sun to part shade. We suggest at least 6 hours of direct sunlight for the heaviest flowering. When established it has high drought tolerance. This is a low maintenance tree that does not require pruning. If pruning is desired for shaping purposes or size control, it should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season’s flowers.

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Plant Long & Prosper!

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