China Snow Chinese Fringe Tree

Chionanthus retusus ‘China Snow’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-9b Find Your Zone

Shrub Type: Deciduous Flowering Tree

Height at Maturity: 20-25′

Width at Maturity: 20-25′

Spacing: 30’+ for space between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Rounded, Broad

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: Pure White

Flower Size: 1.5″ in in 4 to 5″ clusters

Flowering Period: Spring

Flower Type: Fringe

Fragrant Flowers: Yes

Foliage Color: Dark Green, Yellow fall color

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: Yes

Berry Color: Black

Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun, Light Shade – provide at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day for best flowering

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (Amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sandy, Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist but Well Drained

Soil pH: 4.5 – 6.0 (Acid to Slightly Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Butterflies, Birds, Visual Attention,

Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-20F), Deer, Disease, Heat, Insect

Description

A superb selection of Chinese Fringe Tree, ‘China Snow’ is a four season delight in the landscape and a favorite in our gardens. In full bloom, this magnificent tree will stop any passerby in their tracks! The abundant clusters of pure white flowers smother the tree like snow in mid spring, hence the common name. The round to oval-round thick, eucalyptus-like, glossy green leaves emerge after flowering becoming creamy yellow with the arrival of cooler temperatures in fall. On older trees the furrowed bark accentuates the attractive outline of curved trunks throughout the winter months. Reaching 20 to 25 feet high and wide when all grown up, China Snow is a durable, long-lived and easy-to-grow small tree that makes for a magnificent specimen in sunny to lightly shaded landscape and woodland borders or around outdoor sitting and living spaces.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 20 to 25 feet tall and equally as wide, the China Snow Chinese Fringe Tree is ideal for use as a focal point specimen in sunny to partially shaded landscape or woodland borders. Also nice around patios and other outdoor sitting and living spaces where it provides some shade and the fragrant pretty flowers and handsome foliage can be enjoyed from close up. A fine addition to fragrance gardens, white theme gardens, Asian theme gardens and cottage gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 26 feet for space between trees

Growing Preferences

The China Snow Chinese Fringe Tree is very easy to grow in most any moist but well drained soil of average to high fertility and full sun to part shade. More flowers will be produced with more sun so we suggest at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day. Prefers a deep, moist, acidic soil, however will tolerate dry periods when established. Provide an occasional deep soaking during extended drought. Very little if any pruning is necessary. If you do want to prune for shaping purposes or size control do so immediately after bloom. High tolerance of air pollution makes this one a fine selection for urban landscape.

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Plant Long & Prosper!

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