A large, multi-stemmed shrub with an upright, arching, loose and open, symmetrical to irregular habit. The leaves are dark green The small. creamy white flowers are borne on panicles in late spring or early summer. The flowers are smaller than the Japanese tree lilac, Syringa reticulata. Lilacs are plants for cold weather and must have a dormancy period in order for them to flower. The bark is brownish colored. Some seedlings will develop beautiful exfoliating bark, while most seedlings will have an indistinct, dark, scaled bark. It adapts to a variety of soil conditions and needs full sum to partial shade. The Pekin lilac requires little pruning, It can be trained to develop a central leader for use as a single trunk tree. However, regular pruning will be required for several years to remove the drooping lower branches. It is probably the most pest-resistant lilac.