Recently I was in Charleston, SC, and saw many blooming fringe trees. I always thought they were Virginia natives — not southern belles.
Fringe trees (Chionanthus virginicus) bloom wispy cream flowers, like an old man’s beard. They were blooming in March in South Carolina and they will bloom later here. They prefer full sun to part shade and moist fertile soil. Their natural habitats are damp woodlands. Fringe trees are named after their sweetly scented flowers, comprised of 4 to 6 one-inch long straps. Although fringe trees are dioecious (male and female plants), they both flower. Some produce what are called “perfect” flowers (having both male and female parts). Therefore, female flowers and perfect flowers produce fruit that resemble dark blue olives. Fringe trees belong to the olive family and the birds love the fruit. These slow growing trees mature around 15 to 20 feet and are perfect for the home as specimen trees. Try planting a fringe tree in your garden!