Giant Tree Lilac Syringa reticulata subsp. reticulata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Giant Tree Lilac:
- Phonetic Spelling
- si-RING-gah reh-tick-yoo-LAY-tuh
- Description
-
Japanese tree lilac is a very large deciduous shrub or small tree, reaching a height of about 20 to 30 feet with a 15-foot-spread, with huge clusters of creamy white flowers in early summer. The fragrance is more suggestive of privet than of traditional spring-blooming Syringa vulgaris. With spreading branches and an oval to rounded crown, it has a Christmas tree shape, wider at the base and narrower at the top. Although adaptable to soil ph, it prefers soil in a neutral range, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. It can be planted as a specimen, street tree, in small groups, or in a border.
It is highly resistant to mildew when planted in full sun and to lilac borer when watered during dry spells.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Lilac borers are occasional pests. Powdery mildew can occur in shady areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Chantilly Lace'
Variegated foliage - 'Golden Eclipse'
Leaves develop gold edges - 'Ivory Silk'
Blooms heavily, has attractive bark - 'Summer Snow'
More compact, rounded tree
- 'Chantilly Lace'
- 'Chantilly Lace', 'Golden Eclipse', 'Ivory Silk', 'Summer Snow'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Chantilly Lace'
Variegated foliage - 'Golden Eclipse'
Leaves develop gold edges - 'Ivory Silk'
Blooms heavily, has attractive bark - 'Summer Snow'
More compact, rounded tree
- 'Chantilly Lace'
- 'Chantilly Lace', 'Golden Eclipse', 'Ivory Silk', 'Summer Snow'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Syringa
- Species:
- reticulata
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoko and Kyushu Japan
- Distribution:
- naturalized in the US in New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont, and in Ontario, Canada
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers support hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, particularly Purple Admiral, White Admiral, and Canadian Tiger Swallowtail.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Shade
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-trunked
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- 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:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- dry, oblong or ovoid, 2 cm long, green then yellow capsules, usually in large quantities
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Terminal, creamy white panicles 6"-12" long, flowers in June slightly later than the shrub lilacs.
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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
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-6" dark green leaves, ovate with a rounded base. Reticulata: pinnate-veined, a reference to leaf veins. Leaves are non-showy in fall
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Shiny
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Shiny smooth peeling red-brown bark with horizontal lenticles, turning grey with age..
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- shiny brown stems with horizontal lenticels
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Patio
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Salt
