Pin Cherry vs White Fringe Tree - TreeTime.ca

Pin Cherry vs White Fringe Tree

Prunus pensylvanica

Chionanthus virginicus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Pin Cherry
White Fringe Tree

Pin Cherry is a small tree that produces clusters of white blossoms in spring followed by bright red berries that ripen through the summer. The attractive red color of the leaves in the fall is an added bonus.

The fruit is quite sour when eaten fresh but is excellent when cooked into jam or jelly. Birds love the berries and will be attracted to your property.

White Fringe Tree is known for its fringe-like white flowers. It can either grow as a small tree or a large multistemmed shrub. The White Fringe Tree has separate male and female plants. Both male and female flowers have white fringe-like petals, but the male flowers are longer and showier. The female flowers give way to clusters of dark blue to black berries. These berries are not edible for humans but attract birds and other wildlife.

The White Fringe Tree is tolerant of clay soils, saline soils, and air pollution but does not do well in prolonged dry conditions.

Pin Cherry Quick Facts

White Fringe Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: very bright orangish-red
Bark: reddish brown bark has an attractive appearance in the winter
Flowers: white
Flowers: fragrant, white clusters
Fruit: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Berries: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Berries: blue to black
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, NT, PE
Other Names: bird cherry, fire cherry, pincherry, red cherry, wild red cherry
Other Names: american fringe tree, american fringetree, fringe tree, fringetree, north american fringe tree, white fringetree