We saw – no, the right word is experienced – this frothy Chinese fringetree in bloom in Natchez last year. Each year when it flowers, the people who own it throw a party in celebration. We’d missed the official party, but had a wonderful evening, and I was charmed by the tree. If I remember rightly, they planted it shortly after buying the house and it is ‘only’ around 25 years old.
Since then, I’ve tried to persuade anyone thinking of planting a tree to get a Chionanthus retusus so they can have their own flowering party. As it demands and deserves lots of space, so far I’ve been unsuccessful.
Mississippi’s native fringetree is even larger, looser and airier, in both the form of the tree and the flowers.
Shared for Cee’s Flower of the Day.
Susan Rushton 
Ooh-er. This is quite something. I have never knowingly seen one. But I think I haven’t travelled to the right places.
I am sure you have, setting the tree aside, that is. They are not as distinctive when not in flower.
Standing room only! Magnificent…
More like stooping room!
😁🩷
Yes! Got 3 seedlings this year and have them in the greenhouse where I plan to “pump them up” with miracle grow to push their growth. Can’t wait to have this experience since even small ones will put on a show.
That’s good news. F suggests skipping the fertiliser and sticking them out in the yard, although with three you have chance to experiment.
Good news is that the fertilizer helped them wake up and now they’re growing putting out shoots and leaves. I’m more of a fast gardener, instant landscaping. That’s the Disney in me. Plus with 3, as you mentioned, I can experiment and see what happens. 😊🍃🌳🤍
Looks amazing
Very memorable too.
What a tree!!!!
Hard to see it without smiling.
Oh, froth indeed! How absolutely fitting to throw a party to celebrate it. There is such awe to be had, isn’t there?
Some plants invite celebrations. English bluebells, for example. You only need to walk through a bluebell wood to feel you’re at a party.
It’s lovely, and the idea of a tree party is wonderful! Like the Japanese celebrate cherry blossom, perhaps we should all celebrate the flowering of one particular tree or shrub! 😃
That’s a great idea. My sweetheart remembers being made to wait up at his great-grandma’s house for the night-blooming cereus to bloom and when it did not, waiting the next night too.
LOL!
That is some tree! Magnificent and what a fun idea to have a party to celebrate those frothy blooms.
I was going to state the obvious, that this tree is not a shrinking violet, then I thought of a lawn we saw recently filled with violets that were decidedly the partying kind.
Let’s hear it for partying violets!
How wonderful to throw a party in celebration of a tree – I love that idea! Not to mention that the tree looks stunning 😮
The tree is a celebration in itself.
Those are beautiful. I had one that got hit by a tree during Hurricane Ike, went through two bad freezes, and finally succumbed to its injuries. I still highly recommend the tree.
Yours sounds like a survivor, even though in the end, it gave out.
When are you coming back? Have you quit this blog? Hope not.
Thanks so much for your concern, Diane. I’ve written a post to explain.