Tree of the Week: From Pasadena (and China), The Chinese Fringe Tree

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We like to try to create a brief, anxiety-free zone on Saturday morning -- a few moments free of fretting about falling property values, foreclosures, the neighbor’s hideous McMansion, etc. In this spirit, we give you ‘tree of the week,’ reminding you of a simple, enjoyable way to increase the value of your home: plant something beautiful.

This week we asked Alan Uchida of Bellefontaine Nursery in Pasadena for guidance. His choice: Chionanthus Retusa, better known as the Chinese Fringe Tree, which blooms in May and is known for its fragrant white blossoms.

‘My favorite tree this time of year,’ Alan tells La Land. ‘They’re hardy and easy to care for ... A cinch to prune ... reaches anywhere between 15 and 25 feet.

‘The leaves are narrow and deep green in the summer, then changing to yellow in the fall,’ he tells us.

Chinese Fringe Tree lore, from www.monrovia.com: ‘In China, the young leaves of this tree are used as a substitute for tea and some are considered equal in fragrance to some of the best green teas.’

Have a favorite tree, flower or shrub? Use the comment button or send email to lalandblog@yahoo.com. And enjoy your Saturday morning.