April's Flower of the Month
Grancy Gray-beard, Fringe Tree
(Chionanthus virginicus)
In spring, white honey-scented flowers of Grancy gray-beard (Chionanthus virginicus) cover the plant and perfume the area for about three weeks. Each blossom has four very narrow petals about an inch long that dangle from threadlike stems in delicate, fleecy clusters six to eight inches long. Soft to the touch, these flowers quiver in the slightest breeze.
Grancy gray-beard is a large shrub or small tree that is native over much of the United States (Zones 3 to 9). In nature it can reach 25 to 30 feet with an equal spread, but in our yards it more commonly grows from 12 to 20 feet tall and wide.
In the Garden
In the landscape grancy gray-beard is a beautiful specimen shrub or small tree. It is effective in groups, borders, or near large buildings. Pollution tolerance makes it an excellent choice for cities. Thomas Jefferson planted them at the edges of his fields in informal groups at Monticello. He delighted in their spring blossoms and in their brilliant yellow fall foliage.
Male trees put on a bigger show in spring because flowers have longer petals. However, the female bears fruit that is good wildlife food. Dark blue, egg-shaped fruits about a half-inch long ripen by late summer. Place male plants beside a patio or other area where falling fruit may be a problem, but choose a female for a mixed border and to provide food for songbirds.
Propagation
Propagation of grancy gray-beard takes a bit of understanding because the seed has a double dormancy. Three to five months of warmth are required for the root to develop, but the stem remains dormant. Then low temperature of at least 41 degrees F for one or more months is required for the stem to develop. Seeds sown outside in fall don’t show stem growth until the second spring, and first year seedlings grow very little. However, if you have the patience and can find some seed on a female plant before the birds make off with them, your efforts will pay off in a few years. Cuttings appear hard to root, but limited success may be possible from softwood cuttings taken in spring.
Young container plants can be planted in the landscape anytime but have the greatest chance to succeed if planted in late fall through winter. Though best in slightly acid, fairly rich soil in open sun, they tolerate a wide range of conditions and seem immune to diseases and pests. For gardens with humus-starved soil, mulching generously with leaves, pine needles, or other organic material will help.
Kinds
Dwarf fringetree (Chionanthus pygmaeus) is a dwarf form sometimes spotted in sandy soils of the Coastal South. It blooms just as beautifully as its larger cousin, but on a smaller framework. These dwarfs may reach three to four feet high and literally droop with large, fleecy, white clusters in spring. The Chinese version of this plant (C. retusus) is very showy, perhaps even more so than our native. It has excellent heat tolerance and retains its vibrant green color throughout the summer.
At a Glance
Common name: Grancy Graybeard
Scientific name: Chionanthus virginicus
Say: kye-oh-NAN-thus vir-JIN-ih-kus
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3-9
Salt tolerance: Slight
Family: Oleaceae (Olive)
Size: 15-30 ft. tall/8-20 ft. wide
Other common names: Fringe tree, old man’s beard
Origin: Native to Eastern United States
Relatives: Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet); Osmanthus fragrans (sweet olive)