NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Chionanthus virginicus

Scientific Name:	Chionanthus virginicus
Genus:	Chionanthus
Species Epithet:	virginicus
Common Name:	Fringe tree, Old man's beard
Plant Type	Tree/Shrub
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Oleaceae (Olive Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Size:	6-12 ft., 12-36 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	White
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	April, May, June
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	Dry, mesic, or wet forests and woodlands, granitic flatrocks and domes, glades and barrens over various rocks (including granite, greenstone, etc.), swamp forests in the Coastal Plain, tidal swamps, rarely pocosins
Leaf Arrangement:	Opposite, Whorled
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Not Assigned
Landscape Value:	Highly Recommended and Available
State Rank:	S5: Secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
Notes:	host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Rustic sphinx (Manduca rustica)
Full Grown Fringe Tree At Lamtree Farm, May 2008 Tom Harville
Landscaping Value In downtown Black Mountain
Leaves & Blooms
Close-up of flowers Durham County, NC Bettina Darveaux
White Fringe Tree fruits and cleaned seeds, collected from a cultivated tree Watauga Co., NC Annkatrin Rose
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record