Bloomipedia
White fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
Photo: Dan Vickers via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

White fringetree

Chionanthus virginicus

White fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) is a shrub or small tree in the Oleaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

White fringetree is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

22states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
8,648U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alabama, Georgia

Quick look

Chionanthus virginicus is a tree native to the savannas and lowlands of the northeastern and southeastern United States, from Massachusetts south to Florida, and west to Oklahoma and Texas.

  • It belongs to the Oleaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 22 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Georgia and Alabama. NatureServe
  • In Georgia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
  • In Alabama, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 25 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 985 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #97 among the 183 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 636 research-grade sightings of it in Alabama, ranking #99 among the 167 flowers on our Alabama list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,424 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
GeorgiaNativeMarch–April985
AlabamaNativeApril636

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: S5, secure in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NJ (S2), OH (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records white fringetree in 22 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Georgia counties with USDA records: Baker, Bartow, Bibb, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Carroll, Charlton, Chatham, Clarke, Clay, Cobb, Columbia, Crisp, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Decatur, Dooly, Dougherty, Elbert, Floyd, Gordon, Greene, Hall, Hancock, Harris, Hart, Jackson, Jasper, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Lee, Madison, Meriwether, Morgan, Muscogee, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Rabun, Screven, Seminole, Stephens, Sumter, Talbot, Tattnall, Taylor, Thomas, Tift, Walker, Warren, White, Whitfield, Wilcox, Wilkes, Worth.

Alabama counties with USDA records: Bibb, Clarke, Clay, Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Greene, Hale, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Marshall, Monroe, Morgan, Pike, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Tuscaloosa, Winston.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives White fringetree a low shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.5 to 6.5 and winter lows down to -30 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
4.5 to 6.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-30 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
145
Annual precipitation range
35 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
20 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
High
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Blue · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for CHVI3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 553 counties across 21 states; the most are in Virginia (87), Georgia (59), North Carolina (56).

Other Chionanthus on Bloomipedia (1): Chinese fringetree.

More from the Oleaceae family (9 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Downy forestiera, Purple lilac, Spiny menodora, Border forsythia, Japanese tree lilac, Meyer lilac, Sweet olive, Hairy lilac.

More Georgia flowers

Border forsythia (Forsythia × intermedia)

Border forsythia

Forsythia × intermedia

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in Georgia gardens
Sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans)

Sweet olive

Osmanthus fragrans

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in Georgia gardens
Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus)

Chinese fringetree

Chionanthus retusus

🌷 Flowering tree

🌷 Grown in Georgia gardens

Sources