Peking Lilac Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Syringa pekinensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- si-RING-gah reh-tick-yoo-LAY-tuh pee-keen-EN-sis
- Description
-
Peking lilac is a deciduous, perennial shrub or small tree in the olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to China. The subspecific epithet is Latin for “from Peking,” which is the old Romanized name for Beijing, the capital of China.
This plant is upright, arching, loose and open. It prefers loose, well-drained, neutral soil, and should be planted in full sun for best flowering and disease resistance. Although it is naturally multi-stemmed, it can be trained to a single trunk with regular pruning to remove the drooping lower branches.
Peking lilac differs from the typical variety of the Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) by its finer texture (due to smaller leaves and stems), smaller flowers, and its variable colorful bark, which exfoliates in thin flakes or sheets. It is also more heat-tolerant (and less cold-hardy) than Japanese tree lilac. It blooms late May into June, and like all lilacs, needs a cold-weather dormancy period to flower.
Peking lilac is suitable for Asian, cutting, cottage, and butterfly and pollinator gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Minimal susceptibility to blights, leaf spot, wilt and ring spot virus. Occasional issues with caterpillars and leaf miner.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Beijing Gold'
Creamy-yellow flowers, cinnamon-colored bark, yellow-gold fall color. - 'Pendula'
Weeping branches. - 'Summer Charm'
Rounded form, finer foliage texture - 'Yellow Fragrance'
Fragrant, pale yellow flowers in summer.
- 'Beijing Gold'
- 'Beijing Gold', 'Pendula', 'Summer Charm', 'Yellow Fragrance'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Beijing Gold'
Creamy-yellow flowers, cinnamon-colored bark, yellow-gold fall color. - 'Pendula'
Weeping branches. - 'Summer Charm'
Rounded form, finer foliage texture - 'Yellow Fragrance'
Fragrant, pale yellow flowers in summer.
- 'Beijing Gold'
- 'Beijing Gold', 'Pendula', 'Summer Charm', 'Yellow Fragrance'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Syringa
- Species:
- reticulata
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North & Central China
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, provides shelter for songbirds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Shade
- Wildlife Nesting
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Irregular
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- oblong, acute, 1.3-2.5 cm long
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Yellowish-white flower on 3-6" panicles, fragrance is closer to privent than common lilac.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-4" ovate to ovate-lanceolate, dark green above and grayish-green below. Fall color is insignificant (yellowish-green)
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Cinnamon/amber-colored bark is smooth with prominent horizontal lenticels, may exfoliate in brown flakes or sheets.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Subsp. pekinensis grows in an open, multi-stemmed form.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Salt
- Urban Conditions
