The Low-Maintenance, Fast-Growing Tree You Can Enjoy For Its Beautiful Blooms

Are you planning to add one or more trees to your yard and are looking for just the perfect specimen? If you also want a tree that's relatively fast-growing with a little assistance, doesn't need too much maintenance, and has the most beautiful blooms, you might want to take a look at the Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus). It has all the desirable features you might want in a backyard tree including a lovely rounded and spreading growth habit that will provide shade in summer, masses of fragrant snow white flowers in spring, and appealing golden foliage in the fall. The flowers are similar to those that you might know as the Chinese fringe flower shrub (Loropetalum chinense) which is one of the best winter plants to decorate your patio with for a gorgeous pop of color. 

The Chinese fringe tree can be found growing naturally in China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, but can be grown in the U.S. in hardiness zones 5 through 9. What's more, it's quite easy to grow and can provide a great food source for wildlife, as well as attract pollinators and birds to your yard. It can reach a maximum height and spread of up to 30 feet. This tree has dark green, leathery leaves that have an unusual notch at the tip. The showy flowers grow in large clusters and can easily cover the entire tree in gorgeous color. The deeply furrowed bark is exfoliating and also quite attractive.

Under normal conditions, this tree may only grow around 4 to 10 inches per year, but you can speed up its growth to 1 foot per year by planting it in rich, moist soil and giving it ample amounts of fertilizer. This will result in a more desirable fast-growing tree, if that's what you're after. You can plant this stunning specimen tree either in full sun or part shade, but you'll get the best floral display if it receives 6 or more hours of sunlight daily.

Other than regular fertilizer applications in spring, occasional irrigation during summer, and minimal pruning in winter to remove dead or crossing branches, this outstanding tree doesn't require any other maintenance. This makes it ideal for planting anywhere that you might want a nice shade tree or even in your front yard for a bit of eye-catching color and interest. Due to its fairly compact growth, it also does well as a street tree. You'll find that the Chinese fringe tree makes a good alternative to the stunning and unique rainbow tree that you shouldn't plant in your yard. However, if you're on a tight budget and this tree is a little out of your price range, you might want to consider a more affordable tree species that won't break the bank, the white fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus), which is native to the U.S., and has somewhat similar white blooms.