Comments on: Chionanthus

By: Mark Mickey

Mark Mickey — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 22:54:51 +0000

Will it grow ok in clay type soil, live in little mountain area of south carolina

By: Becky Robert

Becky Robert — Tue, 11 May 2021 17:37:52 +0000

In reply to Bonnie Burkert. Hello Bonnie, I am Lars Rasmussen, Assistant Plant Supervisor for Plant Health at Swarthmore College. I have never heard of a fragrant tree's flowers not having a smell for one year. I have noticed that fragrance levels can vary through the day depending on temperature. Otherwise I can not think of a reason why that would happen. Of course many plants can lose fragrance in the breeding process but that does not apply here. If I see this happening elsewhere I will be in touch. -Lars

By: Bonnie Burkert

Bonnie Burkert — Mon, 10 May 2021 14:49:49 +0000

Hope someone has heard of this weird problem. I have an approximately 20 year old Chinese Fringe tree that we love in the spring for it’s flowers and wonderful scent. This year, the tree is blooming and looks perfectly healthy but the flowers have no scent! It’s not just me – I had a couple other opinions on this. Any idea why or if it will come back? I’m in Wilmington, DE.

By: Marvin Miller

Marvin Miller — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 14:02:38 +0000

I am interested in finding a recipe to pickle the fruit from a fringe tree. Do you have any? We were pleased to visit the campus of Swarthmore last spring and enjoy your lovely gardens. My daughter in law, Andrea Wong is a graduate of Swarthmore.

Thanks,

Marvin Miller

By: Tia

Tia — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 22:42:31 +0000

I have been looking for an interesting, stand-alone, tree to be planted on a sloping driveway down towards the front entrance of our home in northern NJ as a beautiful welcoming display and this plant/tree was suggested to me by a horticulturalist. Do you believe this tree is suitable for my purposes? I appreciate any advice you can give and/or any other tree suggestions. I am looking for mid-size to taller trees with interesting bark and Spring/Fall showy colors which are hardy to northern NJ.

Thanks in advance!

-Tia

By: JB

JB — Fri, 09 May 2014 20:43:55 +0000

I think the northern populations have lighter green, thinner leaves- and are more shrubby. Plants originating from the south have a faster, sturdier, tree-like habit. The leaves seem to be a darker green and thicker.

The same thing with habit can be seen with sweetbay magnolia.

-Jimmy

By: Andrew Bunting

Andrew Bunting — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 15:35:31 +0000

Yes, there are male and female plants with Chionanthus virginicus. Can you clarify what you mean by southern and northern forms?

Andrew Bunting, Curator

By: Lynn Rogers

Lynn Rogers — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 23:57:20 +0000

Have you seen the difference between the
Southern & Northern forms? Their leaves are different.
There are separate male and female trees.