The Chinese fringetree is native to Korea, China, Taiwan and Japan. It is a member of the olive family (Oleaceae). This easy-to-grow deciduous tree displays a showy, white, clustered bloom that appears like a fringe each spring. The specific epithet, retusus , means “notched” and refers to the tip of the leaf, which appears notched. Grow the Chinese fringetree in a location with full sun or partial shade. The lustrous, leathery foliage looks best when grown in some light shade (dappled sunlight), while the flowering is heaviest when planted in full sun. This tree tends to flower better in alternate years. While the male plant has showier flowers than the female, the attractive fruits that birds and some mammals use as a food source form only on the female plant. It is highly adaptable to various soil types and is fully hardy. Sometimes grown as a multi-stemmed large shrub, Chinese fringetree can develop into a modest-sized tree, ranging in height from 10 to 20 feet. Under ideal conditions, it can reach heights up to 30 to 40 feet tall. The only real downside is that it is frequently damaged by deer. The flowers have both male and female parts but are functionally unisexual. The system often breaks down causing a few fruits to form on functionally male trees. The Chinese fringetree is an excellent choice anywhere a small tree is needed. It is well suited for most Carolina landscapes, due to its adaptability to our varied soil types. Use as a specimen tree or in a mixed shrub border. Like many white-flowered plants, the fringetree looks especially pretty planted in front of a dark evergreen backdrop. Insect Disease and other Pest Problems: Frequently damaged by deer. No serious insect pests or diseases. Leaf spot, canker and powdery mildew are an occasional issue. Borers, mites and scale are a minor issue. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet; 24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Leaves are 3 to 8 inches long, opposite, leathery and lustrous. The foliage is bright green on the upper side, while the underside is a downy, whitish green. Young leaves have a serrate margin
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Cross
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
This plant has snow-white, fragrant flowers in 4" panicles at ends of shoots. This tree displays a showy, white, clustered bloom that appear like fringe each spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Blue; Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
There are 0.5-inch dark blue fruit on female trees.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
The exfoliating bark makes this plant a great choice for a winter garden.
Stem detail
Can be grown as both multi-trunked or single trunk.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central & S. China, Taiwan, S. Korea, Japan
Wildlife value
Attracts birds
Attracts
Songbirds
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow; Fragrance; Shade; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Uses (ethnobotany)
Ideal for a rain garden and for fall color.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Patio; Pond; Recreational Play Area
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Children's Garden; Rain Garden; Winter Garden