Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Scrophulariales>Oleaceae>Chionanthus virginicus L.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Fringetree, or old-man's-beard, is farily common understory small tree or large shrub, found in a variety of habitats. In mid-April to early May trees in sunnier sites put on a fantastic display of fringey white flowers.

The masses of white flowers hang down like an old man's beard.

Chapel Hill, NC 4/24/2002.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Chapel Hill, NC 4/24/2002.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) flowers

Morrow Mountain State Park, Stanly Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) flowers

Morrow Mountain State Park, Stanly Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) flowers

Granville Co., NC 5/1/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) flowers

Granville Co., NC 5/1/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) leaves

Fringetree is fairly easy to recognize in leaf, since it's one of our few native deciduous trees or shrubs with large, entire, opposite leaves. Compare with the large wetland shrub Common Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), which has smooth leaves and young branches.

Granville Co., NC 5/1/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) leaves

Granville Co., NC 5/1/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) leaf underside

Leaf undersides are densely covered with white hairs.

Granville Co., NC 5/1/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) stem

Young branches and petioles are densely covered with white hairs.

Granville Co., NC 5/1/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) leaves

Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) leaves

Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) leaves

Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) leaves

Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Chapel Hill, NC 4/19/2002.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

This spectacular specimen, the largest I've seen, is at the NC Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. This tree lost much of its crown in the severe ice storm of December 2002.

Chapel Hill, NC 4/24/2002.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

The small olive-like fruits mature in late summer.

Wake Co., NC 5/23/09.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Wake Co., NC 5/23/09.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) fruits

Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Durham Co., NC 8/3/2003.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Bark of a small tree.

Durham Co., NC 8/3/2003.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Bark of the large tree at the NC Botanical Garden.

Chapel Hill, NC 4/24/2002.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) bark

Morrow Mountain State Park, Stanly Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) bark

Bark of an old tree.

Morrow Mountain State Park, Stanly Co., NC 4/17/2011.

More information:
NC State
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
UCONN
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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