It’s hard to believe this is magical, out-of-this-world plant is a natural, native tree. Fringe Trees bloom with white, long-petaled, ethereal flowers in the spring which also smell lovely. After they bloom, their green leaves offer shade until the fall. These are smaller trees, topping out at around 30 feet tall. Almost half of America can plant a Fringe Tree. They are found as north as New York, as south as central Florida, and as west as Texas. Plant in a place to be admired. Scroll on for planting tips and lots of pictures.
- Full Sun, Part Sun
- Small Tree (15-30')
- Spring flowers
- Pollinator lifeline
The Fringe Tree is a stop-you-in-your-tracks flowering native tree. Fringe Trees have been used in landscaping since America’s early days—it is said George Washington planted them at Mount Vernon.
You may have heard this plant called another name—maybe even ‘Grancy Graybeard’! Here’s why:
Fringe Trees have many funny, common names
Common names for plants are the names generations before us created. Common names for Fringe Trees are hilarious in their range and playfulness and include flowering ash, old-man’s-beard, granddaddy graybeard, and grancy gray-beard.
On The Plant Native, we’ll stick to Fringe Tree (although it is very tempting to go with ‘Grancy Graybeard!’)
If you’re feeling a little confused, you’re not alone. All these different common names are part of the reason Latin naming was invited. While there can be many common names, there is only one Latin name for a plant.
Fringe Trees’ Latin name is Chionanthus virginicus.
Interestingly, even its Latin name has whimsy: ‘Chionanthus‘ means “snow flower” in Greek.
What do Fringe Trees look like throughout the seasons?
Fringe Trees change throughout the seasons, but always look amazing. Their show-stopping looks make them highly prized for front yard statement trees in particular. Here’s how the Fringe Tree changes throughout the seasons:
Spring
In spring, the tree bursts with a profusion of delicate, snow-white blossoms that gracefully drape its branches. The flowers have a sweet floral smell that attracts pollinators.
Summer
In the summer the tree is covered in glossy green leaves, providing shade and homes for songbirds as the tree gets taller.
Late summer / fall
In the late summer, if you plant two Fringe Trees (one male and one female) a magical thing happens: the flowers turn into tiny plum-like fruits. (Only the female tree fruits.)
The tree again invites friends to party—this time the birds. 75 different species of birds eat Fringe Tree fruit, including thrashers, bluebirds, vireos, and finches.
Fall
Fringe Tree’s leaves turn buttery shades of yellow in the fall, before dropping and then starting the show again in the spring.
Here’s a spring vs. summer comparison to help show why this plant is such a stunner:
Where should you plant a Fringe Tree?
Fringe Trees are perfect for front yards and statement trees. They won’t get too tall and offer four seasons of beauty. According to Uli Lorimer, Executive Director of the Native Plant Trust, they are “perfect for smaller gardens, courtyards, or foundational plantings.”
How to grow Fringe Trees
Fringe Trees love the sun—the sunnier the spot, the better the fringe-y bloom.
These trees need consistent water
Fringe Trees also like soil that has consistent moisture. In nature, they are often found in wet areas alongside streams, lakes, and rivers. In our yards, they are happy in moist areas.
Fringe Trees stay small but grow slowly
Native Fringe Trees can get tall: up to 30 feet. However, Fringe Trees are slow growers: 6-10 inches of growth a year is their standard.
The University of Maryland has a great 3-minute overview of the Fringe Tree in bloom, hosted by an energetic master gardener:
Where are Fringe Trees native?
Fringe Trees’ range extends from southern parts of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and South. They are found from Pennsylvania south to central Florida and westward through the Gulf States to Texas and to northern Arkansas (USDA.)
Fringe Tree cultivars and one non-native to be careful of
A cultivar is a plant that has been curated or edited by humans to look or behave a certain way (here is a quick cultivar overview.) Whenever possible, try to plant true native species.
There are several Fringe Tree cultivars that have been cultivated to be shorter, have different colored flowers, or withstand drought better than the native species. These cultivars include:
Fringe Tree ‘Emerald Knight’: This cultivar completely covers itself in flowers, followed by glossy dark green leaves—and it does not fruit. A good choice if you’re worried about fruit issues.
Fringe Tree ‘Prodigy’: Is a shorter cultivar (10′-15′ tree) with lots of fringey blossoms. Perfect for smaller spaces.
Fringe Tree ‘Spring Fleecing’: This cultivar also doesn’t make fruit, but still delivers lots of flowers and a light fragrance. Its leaves are a little brighter green than ‘Emerald Knight.’
Native vs. Cultivar
Plant true native plants whenever possible. Cultivars (short for CULTivated VARieties) are selected by humans and often do not offer the same benefits to bugs, birds, and animals that native plants do.
If you’re planting native, be careful NOT plant a Chinese Fringe Tree
Be careful NOT to buy a non-native Chinese Fringe Tree (Chionanthus retusus). Non-native plants are plants that are native to other places on the globe—in this case, Asia. Non-native plants do not offer the nutrution for wildlife or resilience for the soil and weather that native plants provide.
Where can you find or buy a native Fringe Tree?
Finding specific native plants can be challenging, especially at conventional nurseries or big box stores. Here are four ideas for finding a Fringe Tree for your yard:
Where can I find seeds and plants?
Finding native plants can be challenging (we partly blame Marie Antoinette.) To make it easier, we’ve assembled four sourcing ideas.
Native Nursery List
100+ native nurseries makes finding one a breeze
Online Native Plant Sellers
We've included 100+ online resources to help
Society Plant Sales
Every state has a native plant society; find yours
Online Communities
Local Facebook groups are a great plant source
What are good Fringe Tree pairings?
Why not plant a whole native shrub and tree garden party to accompany this stunning tree? We recommend the following pairings:
In conclusion, Fringe Trees are a stunning native tree that looks fantastic in high-profile places as a statement tree. While they might be slow growers, they will return year after year, and depending on how many you plant, may also provide food for songbirds. You might want to see if you can add a nametag to your garden when you plant one because people will definitely stop and ask for the name of this plant! (Maybe try telling introducing it as ‘Grancy Graybeard?’) Looking to dig deeper? Stop by our Best Plants for Birds or the Best Native Trees for Front Yards. Happy planting!
Sources
- Harstad, Carolyn. Got Sun? 200 Best Native Plants for Your Garden. (2013), 23-24.
- Lorimer, Uli. The Northeast Native Plant Primer. (2022), 62.
- Nelson, Gil. Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens: A Handbook for Gardeners, Homeowners, and Professionals. (2010), 88-89, 308-309.
- Missouri Department of Conservation, Fringe Tree
- Piedmont Master Gardeners, Fringe Tree
