I am often accused of using descriptive adjectives more typically reserved for people when discussing plants. Terms like handsome, attractive and elegant frequently roll of my tongue, along with far less complimentary terms on occasion. On the other hand, terms like eloquent, ethereal and graceful are words I typically do not use to describe a plant. However, I do believe they are the perfect adjectives to describe the Fringe Tree, botanically named Chionanthus virginicus, especially while it is covered with its fleecy white flowers of spring.
Fringe Tree is a member of the Oleaceae or Olive Family. The genus includes nearly 150 species, almost all of which are evergreen and native to tropical regions of the world. Chionanthus virginicus is native from NJ south to Florida and West to Oklahoma and Texas. The genus name was originally penned by the Swedish Botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753; inspired by the snowy white flowers, he crafted the genus from the Greek Chion for snow and Anthos for flower. Linnaeus also provided the species epithet and described the plant in 1753. The species name refers to the colony of Virginia, which in 1753 not only included the current state of Virginia, but also the regions now known as Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and portions of Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.
In general, Chionanthus virginicus is slow growing, appearing naturally in moist woodlands along stream banks and in exposed rocky glades. It frequently appears as a multi-stemmed shrub, reaching 15-20 feet tall and slightly wider, as pictured at right in the Morris Arboretum. However, under perfect conditions, they can reach heights of 30 feet by equal or greater widths. Depending upon the year and location, the white flowers that inspired the name can appear in late April, although May into early June is more typical for NJ. The floral display lasts for upwards of 2 weeks and looking up into a canopy of the pendant flowers can be a very transformative moment for the gardener! The flowers emerge from buds at the base of the leaves or leaf axils and freely dangle along the stems. The flowers are arranged in panicles, which have a central stem with three-flowered clusters radiating outwards along this stem. The overall panicle ranges from 4-10 inches long and up to 6 inches wide. The plants are dioecious, with individual plants having all male or all female flowers, a trait certain species adopted to prevent self-pollination and inbreeding depression. The individual flowers consist of 4-6 strap-like lobes or petals that are up to 1 inch long on the female and slightly longer on the male flowers, by 1/16” wide (as pictured at right).
The flowers are wonderfully fragrant and give the plant a very appealing lacy or fringe-like appearance that gave rise to its common name. In some regions the plant is also called Old Man’s Beard, since the dangling panicles resemble a frothy white beard! The male flowers have 2 stamens that aid in making the flowers appear showier, while the female flowers have a single central stigma. Although the male flowers may be showier, it is the female flowers that develop clusters of blue to purple fruits come September. The fruits are technically called a drupe, with each containing a single large central seed. The drupes are much beloved by birds and are a good reason for not planting a clonal mass of simply the showier male selections. The fruits are equally vital to the garden, if not more so, for their attractive display and provisions provided for wildlife (pictured below in late November).
The foliage appears with the flowers and is positioned such that it nicely compliments rather than hides the blossoms. The leaves are a dark, glossy green, measuring 4-6 inches long by 2 inches wide and transform to an attractive golden yellow come fall, especially if the plant is located in full sun (pictured below at the end of the article). The bark is a smooth gray on young stems, maturing to a ridge and furrowed or occasionally a warty appearance on older specimens.
The other commercially available and hardy species for North American gardens is Chionanthus retusus, the Chinese Fringe Tree. Native to China, Korea and Japan, it too grows as a multi-stemmed large shrub, reaching 10-20 feet tall and wide. It can also appear as a single stemmed small tree, whereby it can reach heights of 30 feet tall. Individual plants are often genetically oriented to their ultimate form, although training will have some impact on whether they assume a shrub or tree habit. Chionanthus retusus was originally brought to Europe in 1845 by the Scottish botanist and plant hunter Robert Fortune (1812-1880) with a second specimen appearing prior to 1860 from the English botanist and plant collector Charles Maries (1851-1902). The species epithet is from the Latin Retundere, meaning to pound back or blunt. A retuse leaf has a rounded apical tip with a v-shaped notch, which describes the foliage of many plants with their rounded, glossy green leaves that are up to 4 inches long and 3 inches wide. Interestingly, some plants have elliptical foliage that comes to a point. The leaves also have a thick almost leather-like texture. The plant was named and described in 1852 by two individuals: the English botanist and orchid enthusiast John Lindley (1799-1865) and the English Gardener and Architect Joseph Paxton (1803-1865). The foliage is much more frost tolerant than its North American cousin, with the foliage remaining green through a number of heavy November frosts. During most autumns in the north, the foliage drops while still green in late November, but in more southern gardens the foliage will change to a buttery yellow.
Chionanthus retusus also has dioecious flowers. The flowers differ from their North American cousin by being erect and produced from the apical buds at the tips of the branches. Although the panicles are smaller, only reaching 2-3 inches long and as wide, the petals are wider, reaching from ⅛ to nearly ¼ inch wide (as seen below). The wider petals combined with the apical positioning of the flowers provides for a more dense and brilliant floral display (pictured at left), which is attractive yet not quite as ethereal as its cousin in my opinion. 
The bark is showier on this species, as the younger stems are cinnamon brown in color with small waves of peeling bark running the length of the stems. Over time, the bark matures to a dark brown and gradually becomes ridge and furrowed.
If space is restricted and a more columnar form is needed, consider Chionanthus retusus ‘Tokyo Tower’ (pictured below). It slowly matures to 20’ tall by 8’ wide. The plant pictured below was planted 12 years prior to the picture being taken, when it measured a more humble 4-5’ in height! The form is decided upright and once again it yields an attractive floral display. The plant is female and produces an attractive fruit set in the fall, providing a male plant is within a pollinators reach.
Both species of Fringe Tree perform admirably in full sun or light shade and are very adaptable to a broad range of soil types and pH. I have seen large specimens of Chionanthus retusus planted near busy roadways where they are subject to significant amounts of road salt throughout the winter without any noticeable impact. The American Fringe tree is hardy to zone 3 and while the Chinese Fringe Tree is only hardy to zone 5, they are both suitable for NJ gardens. The one issue to consider and keep an ever watchful eye out for is Emerald Ash Borer, as both species are susceptible.
Eloquent and graceful, Chionanthus is certainly a plant that has been overlooked too long in the gardening world. It is very easy to grow and, providing you have chosen seedling diversity, you will not only have an attractive spring floral display, but a late autumn display of fruits complimented by our foraging winged friends. What more could a gardener ask?
Bruce Crawford
Program Leader in Home and Public Horticulture
The most common species planted in Gardens, and very deservedly so I might add, is Galanthus nivalis. This species is also the type species for the genus, against which all species are evaluated and compared. This species was also named by Linnaeus in 1753, with the species epithet coming from the Latin meaning ‘of the snow’ or ‘snow-covered’. Typical to the genus, each bulb produces two linear leaves that ultimately grow to 6-8” long. The flower scape emerges from in-between the leaves when they are merely 1-2” tall as seen at left. The flower scape ultimately stretches to 6-8” tall as well and terminates in what appears like a shepherd’s crook, with the flower dangling from the center of the crook (see image below of Galanthus elwesii). When the flower initially emerges from between the leaves, the bud is held upright and is enclosed by a protective leafy bract or spathe. The spathe consists of two modified leaves called spathe valves and two transparent membranes. The spathe valves are located on either side of the flower bud and appear as slender green lines, as seen in the image above.
The two transparent membranes are connected to the spathe valves and wrap around the bud. As the bud expands, the membranes split open and fall away, while the 2 spathe valves elongate and curl downward, forming the ‘shepherd’s crook’, as the image of Galanthus elwesii depicts at right. As the spathe valves elongate, the flower bud transitions from an upright bud to a dangling flower, located near the center of the spathe valves. An incredible ‘dance’ and fun to watch evolve if time permits!
The compressed growing period pressures the genus to produce as many carbohydrates as possible for generating seed and developing new bulbs for the following year. Albeit small, these green markings aid in the production of the needed sugars! Interestingly, the foliage and tepals also contain small air-filled spaces that allow the flowers to tolerate subfreezing temperatures as they begin to bloom. The globe shaped ovary is located above the tepals, with the small black seeds maturing in mid to late May. The seeds have an attached lipid rich structure called an elaiosome, which not only feeds and attracts ants, but serves as a means of seed dispersal.
Another readily available species is the formerly mentioned Galanthus elwesii. The plant resembles its cousin in all aspects except it is larger with the outer tepals reaching an inch or longer in length. They are often the first species to emerge and feature green markings on both the upper and lower ends of the inner tepals. They can even be connected, as seen at right. The larger outer tepals results in a flower upwards of 2” in diameter when fully open! The species honors the British botanist and entomologist Henry John Elwes (1846-1922), who came across a mass of large flowered Snowdrops in 1874 while botanizing in the mountainous regions near Smyrna, Greece. In 1875, the English botanist Dalton Hooker (1817-1911) honored Elwes with the species epithet. Interestingly, the plant that Elwes found was actually a previously described species named Galanthus gracilis and Hooker’s species name was used to describe another, as of yet unnamed large flowered species! 
Another delicate and very attractive species is Galanthus ikariae. Named by John Gilbert Baker (1834-1920) in 1893, it is native to several Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, including the island of Ikaria for which it is named. If the island’s name sounds familiar, it is named after Icarus, who in Greek legend escaped from King Minos by fabricated wings from feathers connected by wax. When he flew too close to the sun, the wax melted and he fell to earth. Legend has it he was buried on this island that bears his name! This species bears smaller pendant flowers to 1” long and a single green mark on the tips of the inner, bi-lobbed tepals (pictured at right). Often, this green mark will extend half way or further up these tepals. The foliage is glossy and more attractive than the mat-green forms, growing to 6-8” tall. Not ideal for plugging into turf since the reflective foliage does not blend well with turf grass. In the wild, the plant is often found in river valleys, growing with Cyclamen hederifolium in deep humus rich soils. It has also been found in upland gravely soils in scrubby growth. The plant is somewhat less winter hardy, but I have not had any issues in over 30 years of growing the plant. Unfortunately, it does not appear to naturalize as readily as other species.
With the chilly temperatures of winter well entrenched in our Gardens, evergreen foliage clearly plays an important role in providing interest at this time of the year. Conifers serve an important role in providing the bones for the garden, but there is still a need for detail plantings as we walk about our walkways and paths. One plant I have enjoyed using over the past 30 years for winter foliage and form, as well as for its ‘hot’ flowers come spring is the Italian Arum, Arum italicum.
Typical to the genus, Italian Arum grows from a tuber, with the sagittate or arrow-shaped foliage beginning to emerge in late September or early October and typically remaining attractive until the following June (photo at right was taken on February 10th). During severe winters, the foliage can scorch if located in an exposed location, but fret not as it will be refreshed with new foliage come spring. The straight species features glossy, deep green foliage or foliage with white splotches while the previously mentioned subspecies is laced with white venation. The leaves usually grow to 12” tall by 6-8” wide, but can be larger if conditions are ideal. The foliage certainly provides great winter interest, but come spring, it is the flower that makes the plant all the more fascinating!
Arum flowers are termed protogynous, whereby the female flowers mature first and are no longer receptive to pollen when the staminate flowers mature and begin to release pollen. This staged maturation prevents the flowers from self-pollinating, resulting in inbreeding depression. To further aid in pollination, the male flowers are thermogenic, whereby they actually go through periods of releasing heat and can become upwards of 50 degrees warmer than the ambient air! Initially, this makes little sense, until one realizes that the flowers are pollinated by flies and the heating of the flowers releases volatile chemicals that smell like rotting meat or even stale urine! None to worry though, since the odors are too faint to be noticed by the passing gardener. Attracted by the odor, small flies are able to push past the filaments of the staminode flowers in search of the source of the odor but, due the slightly downward orientation of the filaments, the flies are not able to escape. The filaments remain resilient against any attempts of escape for around 24 hours, allowing the incarcerated the flies to hopefully deposit pollen from a previously visited flower onto the stigmas. After one day passes, the stigmas become unreceptive to pollen while the staminate flowers begin to shed pollen and the staminode filaments become limp, allowing the pollinators to collect pollen as they move upward and out of the spathe tube. An incredible scenario!
botanist and entomologist Adrian Hardy Haworth (1767-1833) who described 21 species of the genus throughout his career, although he too classified them as Aloe! In 2013, based upon genetic studies, the British botanist Gordon Douglas Rowley (1921-2019) split the genus creating the new genus of Haworthiopsis. The new ending for the name is from the Greek Ópsis for appearance, indicating these plants appear like Haworthia. The most noticeable physical difference is the thicker and harder epidermis or outer covering of the Haworthiopsis leaf when compared to Haworthia. Both Haworthia and Haworthiopsis are native to countries in the southern regions of Africa with the predominance of species found in South Africa, although Mozambique, Swaziland and Namibia are also home to numerous species. Both genera exhibit CAM or Crassulacean Acid Metabolism whereby the leaf stomata open only at night to reduce the loss of water during the day and allow for gas exchange. This allows the plant to be very efficient at conserving water, but also rather slow growing since it can only produce a limited amount of sugars per day based upon the amount of CO2 absorbed at night.
The most commonly grown species, and the plant my mother used with seemingly reckless abandon is the Zebra Cactus or Haworthiopsis attenuata (pictured at right). The species epithet is from the Latin Attenuatus meaning diminished or lessened and refers to the form of the leaf, which tapers or diminishes to a sharp point. The common name of Zebra Cactus comes from the ornamental bands of small white warty projections called tubercles on the back sides of the dark green leaves, which with a touch of imagination resemble the markings of a Zebra. The tubercles allow the expansion of the leaf during the moister summer months without imparting any tearing or damage to the stiff epidermis of the leaf. The plants are stemless and produce 3-6” diameter rosettes of foliage that develop offsets or pups over time and eventually develop into sizable colonies. White to soft pink flowers are occasionally produced during late fall and winter, which corresponds to the spring and summer months in the plants native homeland. The genetic clock does not change simply because the plants are now in North America! The flowers are located along slender stems that bend like fishing poles under the weight of the flowers. The flowers actually consist of tepals, whereby the petals and the leafy calyx look identical and they are displayed in a bilobate arrangement, with a very distinguished upper and lower lip, as seen above. The tip of the lips reflex back, giving the flower a very pronounce appearance similar to a set of puckered lips. Green or reddish brown stripes run down the inside and outside of the flower and most likely serve as nectar guides or visual cues for visiting pollinators.
Another very ornamental species is Haworthiopsis limifolia, commonly called the File Leafed Haworthia or Fairies Washboard. Herman Wilhelm Rudolf Marloth (1855-1931), a German born South African botanist and pharmacist, described the species in 1910, under the genus Haworthia. The epithet is from the Latin limo, meaning to diminish or file off, a reference to file-like appearance of the raised linear ridges of tubercles along the leaves. The common name of Fairies Washboard is also a reference to the raised ridges of tubercles. The leaves are arranged in stemless rosettes, although they are slightly broader, especially near the base when compared to its previously mentioned cousin. ‘Spider White’ (pictured above) is a relatively recent introduction with very white tubercles and is the recipient of the 2015 Dutch ‘Glass Tulip’ award for best new houseplant. The tubercles are a very showy white and give the foliage a very attractive creamy glow!
summer months, the plants are actively growing and are tolerant of our summer rainfalls, allowing them to be used in summer container arrangements or simply set outside for the summer. In the regions where they are native, they typically grow in the shadow of a rock and prefer a similar, lightly shaded location as an ornamental. Fertilize with a half dilute houseplant food that has a higher phosphorus content, such as 5-10-5. Come fall bring the plants inside and give them a windowsill with bright light or morning light. The key in winter is to let the soil dry out completely in-between watering, which can mean upwards of 2-4 weeks without the need for a watering can – something that may prove very difficult for some gardeners!
Peperomia is in the family Piperaceae or Pepper family, which derives its common familial name not from peppers we eat as a vegetable, but from Piper nigrum, the source of black pepper! The genus Peperomia consists of nearly 1,000 species, most of which are found throughout tropical regions of South America, although a few are located in Africa, Mexico and the Caribbean. The genus name was penned by the Spanish Botanists Hipólito Ruiz López (1754-1816) and José Antonio Pavón Jiménez (1754-1840) in 1794, following their 3 botanical tours of Peru and Chile during 1777 and 1788. The name Peperomia comes from the Greek Pipéri for pepper and Hómoios for resembling or similar, once again a tribute to its distant cousin Piper nigrum. The common name of Radiator Plant was coined by the famed horticulturist Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954); since the plants enjoy warm air and bright light, much as one would find on a window sill above a radiator, he deemed it apropos! For nearly all species of the genus, the foliage provides the primary ornamental appeal, although the flowers are intriguing. The horizontal rows of small flowers are located along a 2-5” long spike (image at right) that emerges from the apical tip of a stem. They are certainly not stunning, but they do provide a touch of interest. Very little research has been conducted on the flower pollination, but it appears many of the plants produce seed asexually via agamospermy, whereby unfertilized ovules yield viable seeds!
One of the easiest species to grow is Peperomia obtusifolia, commonly called Blunt Leaved Radiator Plant or Baby Rubber Tree. The species epithet comes from the Latin Obtusus for dull or blunt and Folium for leaf, providing the foundation for one of its common names. Originally described by the German botanist Albert Gottfried Dietrich (1795-1856) in 1831, this native of Mexico and the Caribbean has 1-2” glossy round leaves that appear along stout stems. The plant produces a low, almost shrubby habit, growing to 18” tall by 2’ or greater in diameter. The stems are somewhat brittle and care should be exercised when handling. For December, the form ‘Variegata’ sports attractive creamy white and soft green variegation. Interestingly, there are several forms of ‘Variegata’ on the market. Some have a broad, creamy white margin with an irregular, silvery green central splash that nicely compliments the deep red color of the younger stems (as seen on the left). Others have mottled white and green foliage that is somewhat less impactful yet still very attractive. Regardless, these forms provide great colors for the season.
Another easily grown species is Peperomia clusiifolia, the Red-edge Peperomia. Originally named Piper clusiifolia in 1789 by the Dutch Chemist, Doctor and Botanist, Nicolaus Joseph von Jacquin (1727-1817), it was not until 1829 that the British systematic botanist William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) properly described the plant. Native to the West Indies and Venezuela, the species name describes how the leaves are similar to the tropical genus of woody plants Clusia, which was named after the famed Artois botanist, Carolus Clusius (1526-1609). The plants have thick waxy paddle shaped leaves, growing to 3-4” long with a prominent red margin and red stems. The variety named Tricolor (pictured at right) features foliage splashed with red, white and green, producing a most attractive plant for the home that can be paired very nicely with some Poinsettias! As with the previous species, plants reach upwards of 18” tall and gradually spread to 18-24” around.
