noted American horticulturist Michael Dirr regards periphery tree diagram ( Chionanthus spp . ) as one of the most beautiful lowly trees for temperate climate garden . For good grounds , too , as it is easy to grow , disease - free , and comport fluffy white peak in spring , dismal berries by former summer and yellow fall foliage . Two species are discussed when " outer boundary Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree " is mentioned : the Chinese bang tree and the ashen fringe tree .
Nomenclature
Members of the olive family line , Oleaceae , fringe tree are part of a botanical grouping , or genus , called Chionanthus . Two metal money grow in garden commonly : the Chinese fringe tree diagram ( Chionanthus retusus ) , and the American fringe tree ( Chionanthus virginicus ) . Other usual names for the American periphery Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree include the blanched interference fringe Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , common periphery tree , one-time gentleman ’s beard and granddaddy graybeard .
Nativity
The Chinese fringe tree is aboriginal to China , Korea and Japan in mixed timberland and thickets comparatively close to lakes and streams . The American fringe tree is native to the eastern United States , from New Jersey S to both Texas and Florida . Its habitat is also varied , but commonly in moist woodlands and copse or bluffs .
Description
Formosan fringe tree produce 15 to 25 feet improbable and broad . Its oval leave are intermediate green and glossy , turning xanthous or persisting tardily into autumn before dropping . In natural spring , new stems and leaf come forth from the branches and by late leap bear white , lightly fragrant blossoms that are hotshot - like but with slender petals . The efflorescence clusters underwrite the intact Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , looking like tufts of fleece . distaff flower , when pollinated by bees , form small , pea - sized Berry that are blue - smuggled . The tree ’s barque is corky and attractive with furrows of dark browned and light gray .
American fringe tree grows 12 to 20 foot tall and panoptic . It also has ellipse leaves , but grasp in people of color from medium to coloured immature and have alter degrees of glossiness . In spring , thin - petaled white flowers appear on the bare branchlet just before or as the first leave emerge . After pollenation , distaff blossom become little , dismal - smuggled berry . The tree ’s barque is smooth .
Both species are dioecian , think a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is either manly or female in gender , as see by the sexual practice of the flowers . Only female Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree produce fruits , but the flower petals on male trees generally are big and more showy .
Growing Requirements
Grow both coinage of fringe tree in either full sun locations to light tone , get between 4 to 10 hours of sunlight daily . Both are patient of of a wide array of soils , adaptable to acidic and alkaline soils ( pH range of 4.5 to 8.0 ) and to sand , loam or clay . Although slightly drouth tolerant , a moist , slightly acid or neutral stain ( pH 6.0 to 7.0 ) that has good drain is best .
Formosan outer boundary Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is best grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8 . American fringe Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is appropriate to grow in Zones 4 through 9 .
Uses
Both fringe trees are used as peculiar specimen trees in garden or lawns or as a grandiloquent accent flora in a mixed margin . They may also be used in the open pockets of woodland garden . The fruits attract songbirds .
