Fringe (Chionanthus virginicus) is a tree native to the savannas and lowlands of the southeastern United States. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to as much as 10 to 11 m tall, though ordinarily less. The bark is scaly, brown tinged with red. The shoots are light green, downy at first, later becoming light brown or orange. The buds are light brown, ovate, acute. The leaves are opposite, simple, ovate or oblong; they are hairless above, and finely downy below. The flowers have a pure white, deeply four-lobed corolla.