Japanese Tree Lilac

(Syringa reticulata)

        Date Planted:  May 1998

         Family:  Oleaceae

         Hardiness:  Hardy in the Gorham, ME area; Zone 3-7

         Mature Dimensions:  20-30’ in height by 15-25’ in width

         Habit:  Tree-like; spreading branches form a rounded, graceful crown with maturity

         Bark:  Like that of a wild cherry; reddish brown marked with horizontal lenticels

Buds:  Sessile and globular with 4 pairs of brown scales; terminal bud often absent

         Leaves:  Simple, opposite, margin entire, broad oval shape; 2-5 inches long, 1-3 inches wide.  Dark green coloring turns yellowish brown in the fall

         Flowers:  Fragrant flowers appear in the end of June in Gorham; creamy white coloring, perfect, effective for 2 weeks

         Fruit:  Oval ¾ inch long capsule, blunt at apex

         Pests/Disease:  certain kinds of borer and scale; blight

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