Articles (Blog)
Ever seen this tree?
Posted on May 9, 2020 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
 
This is a White Fringe Tree, Chionanthus virginicus.  We saw it last week in Meeks Park.  It was still blooming this week.  
 
It is a shrub or small tree, growing 8 to 18 feet, and kinda spindly.  The white flowers hang in drooping clusters, May-June, and the petals are very slender;  "thready" is a good word to describe the flowers.  We've seen these small trees used in highway plantings, in mall parking lots, and I think there's one at the Methodist Church in Blairsville.  I really love seeing them in the wild, though.  It makes me think they are native trees.  I better look that up, not sure.
 
Wow, when I started looking around in my other books, I found this:  Chionanthus is native to the Southeastern US, but is so pretty that it is cultivated to grow outside its natural range.  I also found that it can grow to 35 feet!  
 
And one other thing I forgot to mention:  the flowers are FRAGRANT.  Such a lovely tree.  Be on the lookout in your travels, or go take a walk in Meeks park.  
 
HAPPY GARDENING!!!
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