White Fringetree, Snowflower Tree, Flowering Ash, Old Man's Beard, Grandfather Graybeard, Grancy Graybeard
Family:
Oleaceae (Olive Family)
Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map
Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands
Plant Characteristics
Growth Form
Tree
Height
15
to
30
ft.
Spread
10
to
20
ft.
Leaf Retention
Deciduous
Lifespan
Perennial
Habitat and Care Requirements
Soil Type(s)
Sand, Loam, Acid, Poor Drainage
Light Requirement
Part Shade
Water Requirement
Medium, High
Native Habitat
Woodland
Bloom and Attraction
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Season
Spring
Seasonal Interest
Berry, Larval Host
Wildlife Benefit
Browsers, Birds, Moths
Maintenance
Don’t prune – very slow growing. One of the last trees to leaf out in the spring. Propagation: Seeds.
Comments
Blooms April-June. Long white fringe of blooms in spring. Dark green glossy leaves. Browsed by deer and other mammals. Pollination: Butterflies, moths. Larval Host: Rustic sphinx.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Chionanthus virginicus var. maritimus
References
1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CHVI3. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Chionanthus+virginicus&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=15481&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 284. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=32950#null