Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia

Over 40 Years of Growing Gardens and Gardeners

Snow covered branches
Photo © Mary Free
You are here: Home / Plants / Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic / Trees / Chionanthus virginicus (White Fringetree, Old Man’s Beard)

Chionanthus virginicus (White Fringetree, Old Man’s Beard)

Chionanthus virginicus flower buds
Chionanthus virginicus flowers and leaves in April
Chionanthus virginicus flowers in April
Chionanthus virginicus in residential landscape
Chionanthus virginicus flowering tree in April
Chionanthus virginicus as a street tree
Chionanthus virginicus lenticeled bark and immature fruit in July
Drupes of Chionanthus virginicus
Chionanthus virginicus leaves in October

Note: Click on images to see enlarged photos, captions, and photo attributions.
On a mobile phone, click on the information symbol (circle with a letter ℹ︎ symbol).

Chionanthus virginicus (White) Fringetree, Old Man’s Beard Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Showy spring flowers and summer fruit for song birds makes this an appealing, native* addition to the landscape. Be aware though, fruit and foliage also appeal to deer! The Virginia Native Plant Society named White Fringetree as Wildflower of the Year in 1997. Tree Spring Sapling, Flowers, Early Summer Fruit Height: 20–35 feet Spread: 20–35 feet Bloom Color: Creamy White Characteristics Slow-growing, deciduous small tree/large shrub; usually multi-stemmed Dioecious: separate male and female plants; plant sex may not be known for purchased plants Opposite, obovate to elliptic leaves, glabrous above, pubescent below emerge late spring, often w/ flowers Fragrant, loose, drooping panicles from previous year’s axils May to June; male blossoms bigger Bluish-black drupes on female plants in late summer; male plant needed nearby for fruit to set Attractive to mundane yellowish fall foliage Attributes Tolerates clay soil, air pollution; dislikes drought No serious pests or diseases; deer occasionally-to- frequently severely damage (may need protection) Therapeutic uses Attracts bees to flowers; birds, small rodents, and deer to fruit; larval host to ~12 lepidopterans Growing and Maintenance Tips Excellent Replacement for Soil Requirements: Average, well-drained Acer palmatum - Japanese Maple Albizia julibrissin - Mimosa / Silk Tree Malus spp. - Asian Crabapples Koelreuteria paniculata - Golden Raintree Pyrus calleryana - Callery Pear Ulmus parviflora/U. pumila - Chinese/Siberian Elms Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade, Shade Water Requirements: Moist Seldom needs pruning Use as specimen, in groups or woodland gardens *It is native in DC. In DE it is common in the Coastal Plain and uncommon in the Piedmont. In MD it occurs more in the Piedmont than Coastal Plain. It is found mostly in the southeast corner of PA. It is frequent to common throughout VA. Hardiness: USDA Zones 3a–9b developed by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria Images by Mary Free, Quarry Shade Garden

Tried and True Native Plant Selections 
for the Mid-Atlantic

Print Version (Legal Size):
Chionanthus virginicus ([White] Fringetree, Old Man’s Beard)

Showy spring flowers and summer fruit for song birds makes this an appealing, native* addition to the landscape. Be aware though, fruit and foliage also appeal to deer! The Virginia Native Plant Society named White Fringe-tree as Wildflower of the Year in 1997.

*It is native in DC. In DE it is common in the Coastal Plain and uncommon in the Piedmont. In MD it occurs more in the Piedmont than Coastal Plain. It is found mostly in the southeast corner of PA. It is frequent to common throughout VA. You can view the VA counties in which it has been reported here.

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants: 
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets