China Snow Lilac

(Syringa pekinensis)

         Date Planted:  April 21, 1999

         Family:  Oleaceae

         Hardiness:  Hardy in the Gorham, ME area; Zone 4-7

         Mature Dimensions:  15-20’ in height with a 15’ width

         Habit:  Multi-stemmed with an upright arching crown

Bark:  Reddish brown, with prominent horizontal lenticels; may exfoliate in rich brown flakes

Buds:  Brownish, sessile and globose with 4 pairs of scales; terminal bud often absent

Leaves:  Simple, opposite, ovate-lanceolate and 2-4 inches long with a width of 1-2 inches; dark green above and grayish beneath.  Yellowish-brown in autumn.

Flowers:  Appearing in late June in the Gorham area, fragrant flowers are creamy white and borne in 3-6 inch branching racemes

Fruit:  ¾ inch capsule that is blunt at apex; appears shortly after flowers have gone by

Pests/Diseases:  Various borer and scale insects; Japanese beetle, blight

Reference Pages: Dirr M.1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Stipes Publishing Co., Champaign IL.