Plant Finder

Other Names:  Tree Lilac

Description:

A small tree or large shrub; can be grown as single trunk or multi stemmed tree; beautiful late spring yellowish white flowers tower above the leaves; bark is coppery, shiny, and peeling; a finer textured tree than the Japanese tree lilac

Ornamental Features

Pekin Lilac features showy plumes of fragrant creamy white flowers rising above the foliage from late spring to early summer. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color. The peeling coppery-bronze bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Pekin Lilac is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Pekin Lilac is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Pekin Lilac will grow to be about 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 25 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 5 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America.