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Pekin Lilac

Syringa pekinensis

  • Ivory-Colored Flowers
  • Reddish-Brown Exfoliation Bark
  • Late Blooming Flowering Shrub
  • Zones 4 to 7
  • Grows 15' to 20' with 15' Spread
  • Can't Ship To: AK, AZ, HI
Guaranteed Healthy Delivery
Item # 3774 | Shipping Height: 1 1/2' - 2'
*Mem. Price:$5.49
Reg. Price:$8.50
Quantity:

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Zones 4 - 7
Zones 4 - 7

Hardiness Zones: Zones 4 - 7
The Pekin Lilac can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.VIEW MAP

flowering tree
flowering tree

Type of tree:
The Pekin Lilac falls into the following type(s): Flowering Trees, Ornamental Trees, Shrubs

15' - 20' High
15' - 20' High

Mature Height:
The Pekin Lilac grows to be 15' - 20' feet in height.

15' Spread
15' Spread

Mature Spread:
The Pekin Lilac has a spread of about 15' at full maturity.

Medium Growth
Medium Growth

Growth Rate:
This tree grows at a medium growth rate. [More about this.]

Multiple Exposures
Multiple Exposures

Sun:
This lilac does well in full sun, partial shade.

Various Soils
Various Soils

Soil:
The Pekin lilac adapts to a wide variety of soil textures, slightly alkaline to acidic

irregular Shape
irregular Shape

Shape:
This lilac has irregular, rounded, or vase shape.

More Info
More Info

Attributes:
The Pekin lilac is a graceful, informal shrub with early summer clusters of tiny, fragrant, creamy white flowers, dark green leaves, and handsome reddish brown bark. Its appearance is neater and more refined than the larger Japanese tree lilac. It is hardy and urban tolerant for use as a specimen, border, container or above ground planter, near a deck or patio, street tree, sidewalk cutout, parking lot island, buffer strip, or highway.

Wildlife Value:
Lilacs attract butterflies, provide caterpillar food, and cover for birds and butterflies.

History/Lore/Use:
A native of northern China, it is also known as the Chinese lilac. There are 24 species of lilacs, two derive from Europe and others from Asia. The oldest living lilacs in North America are believed to have been planted at the Governor Wentworth estate in Portsmouth, NH around 1750.

Moisture:
The Pekin lilac prefers moist, well drained soil, but will tolerate moderate drought

Leaves:
The leaves are opposite, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2"-4" long, dark green with no fall oolor change.

Flower Color:
Creamy white, small flowers appear in 3"-6" long panicles. The fragrance smells like honey or privet.

Bloom Time:
late spring, early summer.

Fruit Description:
elongated, flattened, 1/2" dry, green in clusters

Glossy reddish-brown exfoliating bark is accented by small, ivory-colored flowers. Blooms are in 3"-6" long panicles that blossom in late spring or early summer and are quite fragrant. Fine, dark green leaves form a multi-stemmed shrub, or can be trained as a small ornamental tree. A great addition to any landscape. Grows 15'-20' tall, with a 15' spread. Plant in well-drained, slightly acidic soil with full sun for best flowering.

Arborday.org Hardiness Zone Map
Spring Shipping Fall Shipping
Color Zone Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline 		Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline
  2 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  3 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  4 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  5 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  6 03/19–05/12 05/07 11/01–12/03 11/19
  7 03/11–05/07 04/30 11/05–12/10 11/26
  8 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  9 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  10 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, HI , territories, or countries outside the U.S. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

  Standard Dwarf
  Mature
Height		 Space
Needed		 Mature
Height		 Space
Needed
Apple 20' - 25' 35' x 35'

10' **

 10' x 10' ++
Peach 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
Sweet Cherry 30' 20' x 25' 12' - 15' 10' x 10'
Sour Cherry 20' 20' x 20' 8' 10' x 10'
Pear 20' 20' x 20' 12' - 15' 12' x 12'
Apricot 20' 20' x 20'    
Plum 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
      ** semi-dwarf 12' - 15'
++ semi-dwarf 12' x 12'

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

  • They are very affordable.
  • Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.
  • They are easy to plant at the correct depth.

The Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University has an interesting article about the benefits of planting natural root trees. Look for the PDF entitled Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method

Potted (also called containerized) trees come in 4" containers.


If you have questions, please call (888) 448-7337 or E-mail Member Services.