Gardening Plants & Flowers Trees

Chinese Fringe Tree: Care and Identification Guide

By
Les Engels
A picture of Les Engels
Les Engels
Les Engles achieved Master Gardener through the Camden County Extension of the Rutgers Master Gardeners Program. He is an arboretum curator with over 30 years of experience. He describes himself as a "tree-hugging dirt worshipper" who is a member of multiple gardening societies and foundations.
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Published on 02/27/24
A Chinese fringe tree in bloom in a Taiwanese park.

CHAO-FENG LIN / Getty Images

In This Article

Planting a Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus) can add a striking focal point in a garden without taking up too much room or creating too much work for a homeowner. This slow-growing, small ornamental tree provides a lot of aesthetic value and wow-factor for its size. Its profuse white blooms and dark purple fruit can be stunning and make this species one to consider adding to your landscape if you are looking for a unique non-native to add.

Botanical Name Chionanthus retusus
Common Name Chinese fringe tree
Family Oleaceae
Plant Type Deciduous tree
Mature Size 10-20 ft. wide, 10-20 ft. tall
Sun Exposure Full sun to part shade
Soil Type Moist, well-drained
Soil pH Acidic
Bloom Time May to June
Bloom Color White
Hardiness Zone 5-9 (USDA)
Native Range Asia

How to Plant a Chinese Fringe Tree

While the Chinese fringe tree is ultimately not that fussy, soil is the most significant consideration you need to consider when planting this species. Be sure to test the soil before planting to ensure it is moist, well draining, rich, and acidic.

Selecting a Planting Site

Picking a planting site for the Chinese fringe tree where the soil is good and the tree will receive plenty of sun. Once those requirements are met, choose a location where it’ll be visible, to take advantage of its ornamental value. Pick a spot where its blooms can be seen during the spring and its interesting bark can be seen during the winter.

Spacing, Depth, and Support

If planting more than one Chinese fringe tree, the ideal spacing is 15 to 20 feet apart. This distance will provide enough area for each tree to get enough sunlight to achieve its best blooms. When planting, you will want to ensure the depth is twice as wide as the root ball is deep. Once planted, you will not need to support the tree as most Chinese fringe trees on the market are multistemmed.

Care

As fabulous as it looks, the Chinese fringe tree is surprisingly low maintenance and problem-free if you provide it with the right conditions. 

  • Plant Chinese fringe trees in an area that receives full sun.
  • Ensure the tree's soil is acidic and well-draining.
  • Water the Chinese fringe tree often in dry weather.
  • Prune Chinese fringe trees sparingly.

Light

The Chinese fringe tree prefers full sun to part shade but to guarantee that your tree produces a profuse amount of blooms you must provide your tree with full sun.

Soil

Providing organically rich, well-draining, and moist soil will give your Chinese fringe tree the best chance of thriving. Aim for soil with a low pH (under 7.0).

Water

Keeping your Chinese fringe tree well-watered is essential to keep it producing plenty of flowers. This particular species does not tolerate excessively dry weather and needs to be watered more in dry conditions, or its health and ornamental qualities will suffer noticeably.

Temperature and Humidity

The Chinese fringe tree is not incredibly fussy regarding temperature and humidity. It will be happy if you keep it situated in the recommended USDA hardiness zones of 5 through 9.

Fertilizer

While not necessary for the tree's health, providing a Chinese fringe tree with supplemental fertilizer will enhance its blooms. A yearly application of flowering tree or shrub fertilizer will support its flower production.

Pruning

Pruning Chinese fringe tree should be kept to a minimum. Being  a multistemmed tree, they look best with a natural, untended look.

When there are branches that are dead, damaged, or crowding each other, pruning is recommended.

Propagating

Propagating a Chinese fringe tree is notoriously difficult, both from cuttings and by seed, and the average hobby gardener is unlikely to succeed. Your best bet at getting another Chinese fringe tree is purchasing it.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Fortunately the Chinese fringe tree does not suffer from many pests or diseases, and its issues usually do not threaten the tree's life. The most significant concern when dealing with pests may be mites, which can easily be treated.

You will not run into many disease issues beyond superficial powdery mildew, which can be treated easily with a fungicide available at any nursery or home center.

How to Get a Chinese Fringe Tree to Bloom

To encourage your Chinese fringe tree to bloom profusely, plant it in full sun and clear away anything that shades the tree during the day. That action alone will elevate your blooms. Provide a yearly dose of fertilizer and provide it with a steady supply of water. Without enough water, its flower production will stall.

FAQ
  • Is the Chinese fringe tree a messy tree?

    Unlike many other fruiting and flowering trees, the Chinese fringe tree is not a messy tree. It holds on to its blooms for a long time, leaving you with little cleanup during the spring. Being deciduous, it will drop leaves like all deciduous trees but does so late into the winter.

  • What are the pros and cons of having a Chinese fringe tree?

    The biggest pro for the Chinese fringe tree is its stunning white blooms. There are not many cons, but deer are attracted to its fruit, flowers, foliage, and even bark, so you’ll have to take preventative measures to keep the deer away.

  • Do Chinese fringe trees grow quickly?

    No, Chinese fringe tree is a slow-growing tree, growing less than a foot a year. On average, it grows 4 to 10 inches per year.

  • Are Chinese fringe trees invasive?

    While it is an introduced species from Asia, Chinese fringe tree has not been shown to be invasive in North America and seems to have little potential to become so.