Once it is established, fringetree requires little, if any, maintenance. If any pruning is needed, prune immediately after it flowers to allow the branches sufficient time to develop next year’s flower buds. The shrub-like form can be shaped into a small tree form by pruning the lower limbs and foliage away.

When should I prune my fringe tree?

Prune in early spring to improve form and structure but, this plant blooms on old wood so you will be removing flowers. After bloom more touch pruning can be done. Crossing, badly formed or damaged branches should be removed back to a main branch.

How do you trim a fringe tree?

The fringe tree naturally grows multiple trunks but can be pruned to a single trunk. To do this, choose a strong leader trunk and cut all other trunks down to the ground. When older, the tree requires little pruning, if any at all. Continue to cut out damaged or weak branches.

How do you take care of a white fringe tree?

The white fringe tree does well in most types of soil, ranging anywhere from clay to loam. For best results, the soil should be slightly acidic and well drained. The pH level for the soil should range between 6.0 to 6.5. The tree loves moisture and does well when planted near ponds or streams.

How do you take care of a fringe tree?

Caring for Fringe Trees For best results, plant fringe trees in moist, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. As with most flowering trees, more sun means more flowers. Dig the planting hole as deep as the root ball and two to three times as wide.

What does a fringe tree look like in the winter?

The white fringe tree is deciduous and loses its leaves in the winter. The leaves are dark green with a distinct tip. These leaves turn a beautiful yellow or brown color in autumn. The flowers have long, thin petals.

Can you keep a fringe tree small?

Mature Height/Spread. Native white fringetrees remain small, maturing at 12 to 20 feet in height and 12 to 20 feet in width. Trees in the wild may be taller. Fringetrees naturally grow with multiple stems, but can be trained to single trunks.

How do you tell the difference between a male and female fringe?

Fringe Tree is dioecious (separate male and female plants), with the male flowers very slightly more showy than the female. However, the female plants sport attractive, bluish-black, olive-like fruit in clusters in the late summer, attracting birds such as Cardinals, Bluebirds, Mockingbirds, Woodpeckers.

How large does a fringe tree get?

Plant care: In landscape situations Fringetree is typically a shrub growing 12 to 20 feet high, but as a tree it can reach 30 feet high and wide. It is tolerant of wind and air pollution, best grown in well-drained soil, in full sun to part shade. It prefers moist, fertile soils and seldom needs pruning.

What does a fringe tree smell like?

In late spring, an abundance of feathery white flowers appears on the tree for a two-week blooming providing a showy display. The flowers can perfume your garden with their sweet, lilac-like smell, particularly in the evening.

Are fringe trees fast growing?

Fringe tree grows slowly, under ideal conditions possibly 8 to 10 feet in 10 years. Fringe tree is adaptable to a variety of light conditions and soils. Trees grow well in full sun to partial shade on moist, rich, well-drained soils.

Is white fringe tree an evergreen?

Fringetree is a small deciduous tree in the Oleaceae (olive) family.

Is fringe tree native to Florida?

Chionanthus pygmaeus (pygmy fringetree) is native to central Florida and is considered an endangered plant.

What is the difference between Chinese and American fringe tree?

The foliage of Chinese Fringe tree is smaller and more leathery and shiny than the American Fringe tree. Chinese Fringe tree has the potential to reach 40 feet but is usually seen in the range of 15 to 25 feet in height with a broad spreading habit and more regular branching than its American cousin.

How do you root a fringe tree?

You can propagate them by softwood cuttings, but the cuttings are often difficult to root.

1. Cut the end of a branch, 4 to 6 inches long, in the early morning.
2. Wrap the end of the cutting in wet paper towels and place it in a plastic bag.
3. Fill a small pot with a mixture of equal parts peat and perlite.

Are fringe trees deer resistant?

The Chinese Fringe Tree (Chionanthus retusus) is noted to be very deer resistant and is a great choice for areas of high deer pressure. The American Fringe tree is also deer resistant but in extremely cold and long winters deer will occasionally browse the lower branches of this tree.