Chinese Fringetree

Look

Leaves

Opposite leathery leaves are glossy above and whitish and hairy beneath.

Flowers

Fragrant white flowers bloom in clusters at the tips of new shoots.

Fruit

Dark blue fruits form mainly on female trees.

Bark

The bark tends to peel.

Where it grows

In Korea

Native

Native to

Central and southern China, Taiwan, southern Korea and Japan.

Ecology

Horticultural sources record that birds and some mammals eat the fruit, and note that in the United States it is often browsed by deer.

Stories

• The Fringe Tree of Cheongok-ri, Whose Blossoms Foretold the Year's Harvest

Famous Chinese Fringetree trees in Korea

• Chinese Fringetree of Sincheon-ri, GimhaeNatural Monument No. 185 · about 600 years · Hallim-myeon, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
• Chinese Fringetree of Cheongok-ri, GimhaeNatural Monument No. 307 · about 500 years · Juchon-myeon, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
• Chinese Fringetree of Pyeongjung-ri, SuncheonNatural Monument No. 36 · about 400 years · Seungju-eup, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do
• Chinese Fringetree of Yonggok-ri, NajuProvincial Monument · about 400 years · Bonghwang-myeon, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do
• Chinese Fringetree of Pyeongchon-ri, SuncheonProvincial Monument · about 400 years · Hwangjeon-myeon, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do
• Chinese Fringetree of Sinjeon-ri, YangsanNatural Monument No. 234 · about 300 years · Sangbuk-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
• Chinese Fringetree of Deokpo-dong, GeojeProvincial Monument · about 300 years · Deokpo-dong, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
• Chinese Fringetree of Jungsan-ri, GochangNatural Monument No. 183 · about 250 years · Daesan-myeon, Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do
• Chinese Fringetrees of Yangjae-ri, HampyeongProvincial Monument · about 200 years · Sonbul-myeon, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
• Chinese Fringetree of Gwangyang-eup, GwangyangNatural Monument No. 235 · Gwangyang-eup, Gwangyang-si, Jeollanam-do
• Coastal Windbreak Forest of Woljeong-ri, GoheungProvincial Monument · Nam-myeon, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do
• Chinese Fringetree Group of Pyeongji-ri, JinanNatural Monument No. 214 · Maryeong-myeon, Jinan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
• Chinese Fringetree Community of Heunghae Hyanggyo, PohangNatural Monument No. 561 · Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• Chinese Fringetree of Odo-ri, HapcheonProvincial Monument · Gahoe-myeon, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do

Sources

• NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
• 국립수목원 국가표준식물목록(자생식물)
• 대전광역시 한밭수목원, 제4차 수목원진흥실시계획(2019–2023)
• 대구광역시 (2019), 제2차 대구광역시 도시림 등 조성·관리계획
• 한국농촌경제연구원 — 조경수 관측월보 2025년 12월(한국조경수협회 게시 원문)
• 김해시청 천연기념물 소개
• 한국민족문화대백과사전 '이팝나무'
• 국가유산청 국가유산 공개 API 상세(천연기념물 '김해 천곡리 이팝나무', 지정 1982-11-09)