This week: Bring on the Flowers with Fringe-Tree
Hello!
Sometimes I encounter plants that I find hard to believe are native, mainly because their blooms are so ornamental that I imagine intrepid horticulturalists bringing them to America for their beauty. Fringe-Tree, or Chionanthus virginicus, is one of them.
Wait, you might be thinking, isn’t Fringe-Tree an Asian import? Good catch. There is also a non-native Fringe-Tree. Chionanthus retusus is a Chinese native that is very similar. Before glaciation and the formation of mountains, they may have been the same small tree. Now, they are family members separated by thousands of miles. Consider this a reminder to use the botanical name, not the common name, when shopping.
Fringe-Tree blooms in late spring, and practically drips with panicles of white flowers. It grows slowly to 15-20 feet in landscapes, although it can reach heights of up to 30 feet in the wild. Like hollies, Fringe-Tree has male and female plants, and only the females set berries that ripen in late summer and attract songbirds. Unlike hollies, the male is more floriferous than the female. Both males and females share yellow fall color.
Adding Fringe-Tree to Your Garden
Male cultivars are sold because they are prettier, but if you want the full ecological benefits, definitely plant the straight species native, and plant multiples. That way, you’ll have a better chance of the best of both worlds: a gorgeous male flower display that attracts pollinators, and a berry buffet to bring in the birds.
Fringe-Tree would be a fantastic addition to a front yard for curb appeal, or anywhere power line interference is a worry. Also consider it for a mixed hedge or living fence along a property line, as it would add height and volume to a border. Give it a try!
Elsewhere:
I updated the list of native trees, shrubs, and perennials that I spotted at my local Home Depot and Lowe’s this past week. They are primarily native cultivars or hybrids with a few straight species trees. Shoppers who haven’t caught the native plant bug will have a chance to unwittingly take home cultivars of Sweetspire (Itea virginica) and Serviceberry (Amelanchier), to name a few—a small win for the environment in the face of all those Rose of Sharon and Panicle Hydrangea bushes.
Have a great week,
Julie