Texas Wildbuds
Chionanthus virginicus
(White Fringetree)
Chionanthus virginicus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0965
Chionanthus virginicus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0974
Chionanthus virginicus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0961
Chionanthus virginicus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 3378
Chionanthus virginicus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 3378
Chionanthus virginicus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0977
| Scientific Name | Chionanthus virginicus | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CHVI3 |
| Common Name | White Fringetree | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 32950 |
| Family | Oleaceae (Olive) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Damp woods and thickets. Plant: Deciduous tree or shrub with multiple slender trunks usually about 15 ft. but up to 40 ft. tall; bark light brown to gray. Leaves: Opposite or nearly so, sometimes clustered toward the branch tips; blades oval to oblong or oblanceolate, 3-1/8 to 8 inches long and 1 to 2-3/8 inches wide, usually smaller; on petioles 1 inch long; margins are entire; upper surface is dark green and shiny, lower paler and may be pubscent-hairy. Inflorescence: Delicate white or greenish-white flowers in dense, drooping panicles from upper leaf axils 4 to 8 inches long; flowers have corollas with 4 long, very narrow linear lobes 0.6 to 1.2 inches long and about 2 mm wide; 2 short stamens. Bloom Period: March and April. Fruit: Drupes (simple fleshy fruit containing a single seed) 3/8 to 5/8 inch long, ellipsoid to ovoid, olive green, turning bluish-black or dark purple. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, Missouri Plants and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2025
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