White Fringetree Chionanthus virginicus Linnaeus    
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Scrophulariales   >   Family Oleaceae   >   Genus Chionanthus   

Status:

White Fringetree grows in much of the eastern and southeastern U.S. In Maryland, it is more common in the eastern part of the state (J. Hill/MNPS, 2014).

Description:

Note the opposite leaves, which are typical of the Olive family. The flowers are fragrant and are arranged in loose, drooping panicles. The long, white, strap-like petals are only slightly united at the base. Fruits are dark blue to purple, fleshy drupes, usually containing a single seed (J. Hill/MNPS, 2014).

Relationships:

Host plant to a variety of moth species including Great Ash Sphinx, Laurel Sphinx and Rustic Sphinx (Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants).

Now known to be subject to Emerald Ash Borer infestation.

There are 233 records in the project database.

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Blooming White Fringetree growing in Worcester Co., Maryland (4/28/2012). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A White Fringetree in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/22/2014). Photo by Jane Hill. (MBP list)

White Fringetree in Howard Co., Maryland (5/14/2016). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

White Fringetree in Howard Co., Maryland (5/3/2010). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

White Fringetree in fruit, in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/4/2019). The fruit is a dark blue to purple, fleshy drupe, usually containing a single seed. Photo by Jane Hill. (MBP list)

White Fringetree in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/9/2014). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

White Fringetree blooming in Howard Co., Maryland (5/24/2009). Photo by Kevin Heffernan. (MBP list)

White Fringetree in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/13/2011). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

White Fringetree in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/12/2015). Photo by David Hilmy. (MBP list)

White Fringetree in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/13/2011). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

White Fringetree in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/7/2017). Photo by Kye Jenkins. (MBP list)

White Fringetree in Wicomico Co., Maryland (5/4/2019). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

White Fringetree in Wicomico Co., Maryland (5/4/2019). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

An Emerald Ash Borer on planted White Fringetree at Downs Park, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/5/2016). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)


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