Lilac, Japanese Tree
Syringa reticulata
Oleaceae - Olive

Description

Leaves: Opposite; simple; broad ovate to ovate; 2" to 5-1/2" long; deciduous; entire margin; dark green above; gray-green beneath and glabrous to slightly hairy; petiole 1/2" to 1" long; yellow to brown fall color.

Twigs/buds: Twigs stout; glossy; glabrous; brown. Often with no terminal bud; lateral buds round with 4 sets of scales, brown.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect; white; held in 6" to 12" long heads that bloom in June. Fruit a capsule; curved; 3/4" long; warty; brown.

Bark: On young and older branches reddish brown to brown with horizontal ridges or lenticels, cherry-like; gray and scaly on older trunks.

Wood: No information available.

General: Native of Japan. Small to medium-sized tree. Shade intolerant.

Landscape Use: An outstanding small to medium-sized tree known for its beautiful flowers. It has a broad canopy, somewhat shrubby in appearance, but easily pruned in a tree form. It also is fairly tough, relatively insect and disease free, and tolerates high pH soils. This tree should be planted more throughout Utah. Zones 3-8(7?).

Cultivars: 'Chantilly Lace', 'China Gold', 'Ivory Silk', 'Regent', 'Summer Snow', var. mandschurica.

Characteristics

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