White Fringe Tree Seeds

Bring elegant beauty and native charm to your landscape with White Fringe Tree Seeds (Chionanthus virginicus). Also known as Old Man's Beard or Grancy Greybeard, this slow-growing deciduous tree is prized for its spectacular display of fragrant, fringe-like white flowers that cover the branches in late spring. Native to the eastern United States, the White Fringe Tree makes an excellent specimen tree for lawns, woodland gardens, and naturalized landscapes while attracting pollinators and songbirds.

Botanical Information

• Botanical Name: Chionanthus virginicus
• Common Name: White Fringe Tree, Old Man's Beard, Grancy Greybeard
• Family: Oleaceae
• Plant Type: Deciduous flowering tree or large shrub
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Native Range: Eastern United States
• Mature Height: 12–20 feet
• Mature Spread: 12–20 feet
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Preference: Moist, fertile, well-drained soils
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (5.5–7.0)
• Water Needs: Moderate
• Drought Tolerance: Moderate once established
• Salt Tolerance: Low
• Deer Resistance: Moderate
• Wildlife Value: Flowers attract bees and butterflies; female trees produce dark blue fruits enjoyed by birds
• Container Friendly: Suitable when young but best planted in the landscape as it matures
• Landscape Uses: Specimen tree, woodland gardens, native plantings, foundation plantings, pollinator gardens, naturalized landscapes
• Germination Rate: 60–80%
• Pre-Treatment: Seed requires 3–5 months warm stratification followed by 2 months cold stratification

Seed Quantities Available

• 1 oz. - Approximately 100 Seeds
• 1/4 lb. - Approximately 400 Seeds
• 1 lb. - Approximately 1,600 Seeds

Growing Information

White Fringe Tree seeds require patience but reward growers with one of North America's most beautiful native flowering trees. Begin with 3–5 months of warm moist stratification, followed by 2 months of cold moist stratification. Sow the prepared seeds about 1/2 inch deep in a well-drained seed-starting mix. Keep the growing medium consistently moist but not waterlogged. Seedlings benefit from bright indirect light before gradually acclimating to outdoor conditions. Once established, White Fringe Trees are long-lived, low-maintenance ornamental trees that produce increasingly impressive floral displays each spring.

Features & Benefits

• Native North American flowering tree
• Covered with fragrant, lace-like white blooms each spring
• Excellent ornamental specimen for landscapes
• Attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial pollinators
• Female trees produce attractive blue-black berries for birds
• Beautiful yellow fall foliage
• Adaptable to full sun or partial shade
• Long-lived and easy to maintain after establishment