Snowflake Bush, Chionanthus virginicus – Care Tips

Within the genus of snow trees, Chionanthus virginicus stands out a little because it is one of the few species that sheds its leaves in winter. However, its more than 80 conspecifics thrive in tropical and subtropical regions and therefore do not have the winter hardiness of a snowflake shrub.

location

The snowflake shrub is ideal as a decorative solitaire in the Mediterranean garden. However, planting in a group or as a flowering scented hedge does not affect its charisma in any way. The ornamental tree gives you a flexible design element for your green realm. Since a Chionanthus virginicus only gradually acquires its winter hardiness in the local regions, it benefits from the following site conditions:

• Sunny to partially shaded position
• Warm, sheltered and little exposed to the wind

So that you can fully enjoy the wonderful scent of flowers in spring, a sun-drenched spot near the balcony and terrace is ideal.

soil condition

As a flat-rooted snowflake bush, it makes the following demands on the soil so that its very fine root system can quickly gain a foothold:

• Humous, fresh garden soil, well-drained to slightly sandy
• A neutral pH with a tendency towards slightly acidic is ideal
• In the planter, the shrub thrives in high-quality potting soil with a little sand

All in all, a Chionanthus virginicus feels comfortable in any good garden soil, as long as it is not too acidic. If you take a look at any indicator plants in the vicinity of a planned planting site, there is no need to carry out a pH test. If stinging nettles or dandelion can be seen there from time to time, they indicate a humus-rich subsoil, just as desired. Daisies or even rhododendrons, on the other hand, indicate that your rare flowering shrub will probably not be at home here because a strongly acidic pH value dominates.

A topsoil thickness of approx. 50 cm is sufficient to provide a Virginia snow tree with sufficient stability. This means that when digging in the bed, you will only come across stony subsoil with groundwater after half a meter at the earliest.

watering and fertilizing

In terms of water and nutrient requirements, a Chionanthus virginicus is easy to care for.

• Keep the soil constantly moist
• The surface should dry between waterings
• Water vigorously repeatedly during summer dry spells
• Apply liquid fertilizer monthly from March to August/September
• Alternatively, fertilize regularly with garden compost and horn shavings

The slow-growing ornamental tree prefers balanced care overall, without rashes in one direction or the other. A snowflake bush is just as intolerant of drought as it is of waterlogging. The same applies to the administration of fertilizer. If in doubt, apply the lower dose, because over-fertilization is difficult to reverse.

hibernate

An adult snowflake bush endures winter frosts down to -21 degrees Celsius. However, it takes a few years for the wood to fully develop this winter hardiness. It is therefore advisable to provide a Chionanthus virginicus with winter protection during the first 2 to 3 years in the bed.

• Before the first frost, cover the tree pit with a thick layer of leaves and straw
• Pull a bonnet made of jute or garden fleece over the crown; Foil is unsuitable
• Place the bucket on an insulating block of wood or a styrofoam disk
• Pack the planter thickly with bubble wrap so that the root ball does not freeze through

In snow-poor areas, frost is the biggest problem in the care of hardy plants during the winter. If there is no snow while permafrost prevails at the same time, a Virginia snow tree is in danger of drying up. Its shallow root system is unable to draw water from the frozen ground, which is compensated for by a blanket of snow in normal winter conditions. It is therefore important to water the shrub on frost-free days.

To cut

A Chionanthus virginicus naturally develops a harmonious habit with a loose, bushy crown. A cut would deprive the ornamental wood of this individual silhouette or at least significantly impair it. A pruning should therefore only be carried out in exceptional cases. However, the slow-growing wood can be thinned out every 2 to 3 years to counteract senescence from within.

• Cut off dead branches at the base in late winter
• Remove stunted and criss-crossing branches
• Shorten shoots with visible frost damage down to healthy wood

A permanent culture in the tub requires repeated pruning if the shrub takes on unwanted dimensions. In this case, it should be remembered that the flowers generally thrive on two-year-old wood. The deeper you shorten these branches, the smaller the next bloom will be. When cutting young shoots, you have more room for manoeuvre, although excessive pruning is at the expense of the natural habit.

Tips for a successful cut in short:

• There is a frost-free, dry weather without blazing sunlight
• Disinfect and sharpen the cutting tool carefully before starting work
• The incision is made at a slight angle
• Basically cut 1-3 mm above a bud

If a branch is to be completely removed, neither the branch ring may be damaged nor a longer piece of branch – a so-called ‘coat hook’ – remain on the trunk.

multiply

A magnificently blooming snowflake bush naturally arouses the desire for more specimens. For this purpose, hobby gardeners have the choice between two methods that require different levels of experience. Propagation by means of cuttings is easy to do and the beginner usually succeeds right away. Propagation by sowing could be just as uncomplicated if the seeds were not among the cold germs. This means that dormancy can only be ended by stratification, provided the gardener does not want to wait years.

cuttings

In summer, a Chionanthus virginicus provides suitable cutting material from mid-July. The shoot tips are approx. 10 cm to 15 cm long and not yet lignified. This means that they come from this year’s budding.

• Defoliate each cutting except for the top pair of leaves
• Fill small pots with moist peat sand or coconut fiber
• Plant two-thirds of offshoots individually and put a plastic bag over them
• Allow to root in a semi-shady place at temperatures around 22 degrees Celsius
• Constant moisture without waterlogging is important

If a cutting sprouts again, the subterranean root formation flourishes. When the first fine roots peep out through the opening in the ground, they are repotted. Since winter is usually just around the corner at this time, further cultivation takes place in a bucket with conventional substrate in a frost-free room that is not too dark. After the leaves have been shed, the young snowflake bush only receives enough water so that it does not dry out. There is no fertilization in this phase.

sowing

With good care, a Virginia snow tree blooms from the third year. It follows that the pretty drupes with their seeds also thrive. As with most hardy shrubs that bear fruit, Mother Nature protects seeds from premature germination in fall and winter. If you are striving for propagation by sowing, it is important to break through this germination inhibition by means of stratification. After the ripe fruits have been harvested and the pulp has been cleaned, they are given a special pre-treatment.

• Rough up each seed with sandpaper or a nail file
• Soak in 3% hydrogen peroxide solution from the pharmacy for 20 minutes
• Dilute the solution with water by 50 percent and leave the seeds in it for 1 day

This procedure has no effect on the germination inhibition, but serves to soften the hard seed coat. In the next step, you tackle the actual stratification. It is an artificially generated alternation between cool and warm temperatures, which imitates the natural process in an accelerated form.

• Put the pre-treated seeds in a bag with damp sand without delay
• Seal the bag tightly and place in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator
• Check for any mold growth over the next 6 to 8 weeks

If the two cotyledons emerge from a seed, remove it from the sand, place it in moistened seed compost and sieve it very thinly. After the germinating seed has spent about 1 week in a room at 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, it is then placed on the warm window sill or in a greenhouse. You have now completed the difficult part of sowing in order to raise the seedlings into strong young plants by next spring.

plant

Spring is the best time to plant a snowflake bush that has been brought forward or propagated by yourself. From mid-May, when the ice saints are over, the uncomplicated work can begin.

• Place the still potted young plant with the root ball in water
• In the meantime, dig a planting hole and mix the excavation with compost and horn shavings
• At the bottom of the small pit create a drainage made of potsherds or gravel
• Unpot, plant and water the snowflake bush
• The planting distance to other specimens is between 200 and 300 cm

Before planting, loosen up a heavily compacted root ball with both hands to encourage rapid growth. Root strands that are too long may be shortened for this purpose. In the period that follows, the care of the ornamental shrub focuses on an adequate supply of water until the shallow root system has established itself. A mulch layer of grass clippings or leaves supports your efforts, especially during summer droughts. The initial fertilization with compost and horn shavings ensures the supply of nutrients until next spring.

Conclusion
The snowflake bush is rightly considered the secret star among flowering bushes. On the one hand, it impresses with a wonderful bloom in May and June, on the other hand, it is extremely easy to care for. A well-balanced supply of water and fertilizer encourages the Chionanthus virginicus to flower like a picture book and have a harmonious habit. Pruning is only necessary in exceptional cases and is limited to a little pruning every few years. Even the propagation is easy by hand using cuttings. Anyone who accepts the challenge dares to sow the cold-germinating seeds.