Re: Scents
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Scents
- From: C* P* L*
- Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 08:34:47 -0600 (CST)
> Two marvelous scents I omitted from my earlier e-mail are from two trees -
> locusts and fringe trees. The (black) locust is indigenous to Kentucky and
> I think the fringe tree is also. We had a fringe tree in our backyard (in
> Leitchfield KY , zone 6) and the smell was wonderful. If anyone on the
> list knows of such a tree, please share what you know with me. I am not
> trying to acquire one, I just want to satisfy my curiosity, mainly as to
> whether it is a native of KY.
Chionanthus virginicus is a favorite native shrub/small tree with, as
you noted, wonderfully fragrant blooms in May/June... The males tend
to be showier, although not as fragrant as the females in my experience.
It *is* a native plant, found from the Northeast down through Texas
and Florida. According to Hightshoe, it was native only to a few
counties in Kentucky (and I can't see any rhyme or reason to the
dispersal on the map).
This was going to be our plant of the month for May '98, but until I
can get to a decent slide scanner again it'll have to wait. :)
Chris
P.S. There is a less commonly available Asiatic version named
Chionanthus retusus. Its leaves tend to be glossier, but
flowering isn't as reliable from year to year...
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