Chionanthus virginicus (white fringetree, "Amerikahitotsubatago")

Japanese name: アメリカヒトツバタゴ
Scientific name: Chionanthus virginicus

[Overview]
A deciduous shrub or small tree 6–12 m tall.
Leaves are simple and opposite, oblong, 12–15 cm long and 5–6 cm wide, with entire margins.
The leaves are hairless on the upper side, and the underside is also hairless apart from slight soft hairs on the midrib.
The petiole is 1–1.5 cm long.
The plants are dioecious, or male and female flowers are borne on the same tree.
Paniculate cymes about 15 cm long hang down from the tips of this year's branches.
The flowers are white, and the corolla is deeply divided into 4 lobes.
The flowers are fragrant.
The fruit is elliptical and ripens to blackish purple.

[Uses]
The roots and bark were used as a folk medicine.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
The germination rate drops when the seeds dry out, so sow them immediately after collecting.
It grows large and takes up space, so a wide area is needed.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, moderately moist, fertile soil.
It dislikes dryness and strong summer afternoon sun.
For potted plants, and for plants in the ground less than 2 years after planting, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
For established plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply organic fertilizer around the plant in winter.
Pruning is not particularly necessary, but if it bothers you, just thin out obstructing branches.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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