Chinese Fringetree
Arbor Walk #160, TreeKeeper ID #6268
Similar to our native Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), this species is a small tree to large shrub with long white-petalled flowers and dark olive-like fruits. The Chinese Fringetree, native to East Asia, may either have one or multiple stems. It is a member of the Chionanthus genus which is primarily a tropical genus; the Chinese Fringetree is only one of a handful of temperate Fringetree species. The Chinese Fringetree is distinguishable from its North American counterparts due to its exfoliating bark when young, which develops into thick furrows as opposed to shallow ridges. It may also develop leaves earlier in the spring than the American species of Fringetree, which are notoriously late to leaf out. The ‘Tokyo Tower’ is a columnar cultivar with a narrow growth form and especially dramatic bark coloration.
| Common Name(s) | Chinese Fringetree |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Chionanthus retusus |
| Indigenous Name(s) | |
| Cultivar/Variety | ‘Tokyo Tower’ |
| Commercial Name |
Global Distribution
Map coming soon
GPS Coordinates
N/A
Percent Concrete
N/A
Distance to Buildings
| Year | Close Building #1 | Close Building #2 | Close Building #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Distance to Other Species
| Year | Close Species #1 | Close Species # 2 | Close Species # 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard Measurements
| Year | Height (m) | DBH (cm) | Crown Diameter N-S (m) | Crown Diameter E-W (m) | Average Crown Diameter (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nests and Pests
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
Leaf Identification
Leaves on mature trees can be between three and eight inches long, glabrous, dark green and elliptic with smooth margins and a short acuminate tip. The width of the leaves can vary greatly, from elliptic to narrow or even vaguely oblong. The underside of the leaf is yellow-green and has strongly raised primary and secondary veins. The petiole is short and slightly curved at the base.
Twig and Bud Identification
Leaves are arranged oppositely on the twig. The twig is light gray-brown and lightly furrowed. The axillary buds are ovate and brown, and the terminal bud is flanked by at least one pair of pointed buds at the twig’s apex.
Bark Identification
The bark of the Chinese Fringetree is cinnamon-colored, with horizontally exfoliating strips that will eventually mature into a deeply furrowed gray-brown bark.
Fruit Identification
The fruit of the Chinese Fringetree is a drupe, 1/2 inch and dark blue-purple. It ripens in the fall, with the fruits shriveling in the winter.
Flower Identification
The flowers of the Chinese Fringetree are white-petalled and fragrant. What appear to be four separate strap-shaped petals are in fact four lobes of one corolla, with each lobe about one inch in length. The flowers are borne on panicles (continuously branching inflorescence).
ID Tips
- Chinese Fringetree has exfoliating bark before full maturity, which the Fringetree does not.
- The ‘Tokyo Tower’ cultivar is a columnar form of the species, meaning it is narrower and more upright than the wild species.
