Both are great trees. I'm assuming you are talking about the native American fringe tree, chionanthus virginicus. I wouldn't be scared away from fringetree unless you live in an area with active EAB infestation. Whether fringetrees can support the life cycle of EAB is still uncertain. It was found on trees in a limited area with a great many infected dead ash trees nearby. It is also possible to protect against infestation. Autumn Brilliance is regarded as very disease and insect resistant, but all serviceberries are in the rose family, apple/pear subdivision, and are subject to pests and diseases common to apples. If you live in an area with lots of old neglected apple trees, this might be a concern. As NHBabs noted, some shrubs and trees noted for their autumn color routinely get zapped by frost too early, so I wouldn't make fall color your number 1 priority. Seviceberry is marginally hardier, earlier to bloom and produces edible fruit. Fringetree is fragrant and showier/longer lasting/later in bloom. You can't go wrong with either.

Despite some claims to the contrary, all plants have specific environmental and nutritional needs. Labeling anything you can't pop into the ground and walk away from as if it were a Norway maple as "foo foo" is inaccurate and would deprive gardeners of many, many wonderful plants.

Good morning. Thank you both for responding. I never even gave thought to EAB. Thank you so much for bringing that up. EAB was confirmed in my county not too long ago. So the Fringe tree is definitely out...

I am glad I came across this.. was seriously considering a fringe.. we are at the epicentre of EAB here in Southern Ontario..in fact, it may be where the infestation started (unless I am confusing it with the asian long horned beetle)... our ash trees are almost all dead or already cut down... so no fringe for me

Fringe Tree does well for me. It has been easy so far and is magical when in flower.

My fringe trees have been attacked by EABs for yrs, and they suffer. Fringe trees are close relatives to ashes.

funny, i thought those things only attacked ash... I know a lot of folks are against the use of chemical pesticides these days, but have we gone too far now? Maybe more damage is being caused by not using pesticides to control these things... We have lost hundreds of millions of ash trees....

anyhow back to the AB serviceberry - I have one in my backyard. How easy/difficult are they to propagate from hardwood cutting? Can someone explain the process? I have never attempted it. Thanks...