Fringe-tree, Chionanthus virginicus, is also known as
grand-sir gray beard as well as various colloquially homonyms spellings. The vernacular names refer to the appearance
of the cluster of flowers with long white petals. Without flowers or fruit, which is an olive
like drupe, the leaves are the best identification key because they are
opposite, actually sub-opposite if you look really close, simple, and have black petioles.
The form is usually large shrub, but can be small tree where the Alabama state champion fringe tree is 19 feet tall, has a circumference of 10 inches, and spreads its branches an average of 17 feet. It is virtually impossible to root a cutting,
and it usually takes at least two years for seed to germinate.