Plant: Chinese Fringetree

Plant description

A deciduous small tree or large shrub reaching 10 to 30 feet tall and wide, with coarse texture, an erect, multi stemmed, rounded to vase shaped crown and opposite leathery lustrous leaves 3 to 8 inches long that turn gold in fall. Snow white fragrant flowers are carried in panicles about 4 inches wide at the ends of the branches in spring and look like fringe, followed on female trees by half inch dark blue drupes in summer. Ridged, exfoliating bark carries the winter display. It grows in full sun to dappled shade in moist, well drained acidic clay or loam, tolerates pollution and urban conditions, and is used as a flowering specimen or patio tree.

Flowers

Snow white fragrant flowers borne in panicles about 4 inches wide that appear like fringe, held at the ends of the branches.

Foliage

Leaves are 3 to 8 inches long, opposite, leathery and lustrous, turning gold to yellow in fall.

Fruit

Dark blue drupes about half an inch across, borne on female trees in summer.

Bark & stems

Dark brown to dark gray ridged and exfoliating bark that makes this plant a good choice for a winter garden.

Light

Dappled/Filtered Light

Native range

Central and southern China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan

Plant details