Fringetree

Chionanthus virginicus

Fringetree earns its name in late May when the entire tree dissolves into a cloud of thin white petals hanging in airy clusters. like white fringe swaying in a breeze, visible from the street. The fragrance is clean, slightly sweet, and carries on warm afternoons. There is almost nothing in the native spring tree palette that compares to fringetree at full bloom, and the display holds for two weeks. Blue-black olive-like berries ripen in late summer on female plants, taken by bluebirds, thrushes, and other frugivores. Glossy leaves yellow in fall. This tree grows slowly, which means it takes time to get to its bloom size. but once there, it's the focal point of the yard for those two weeks in May, and a generous wildlife resource for the rest of the season.