Japanese Tree Lilac

Japanese tree lilac is the lilac that grows into a tree, a small, single- or multi-stemmed specimen that reaches twenty to thirty feet with a rounded crown and smooth, cherry-like bark. In June, it produces large, creamy-white flower panicles, six to twelve inches long, that bloom two to three weeks after the common lilacs have finished, extending the lilac season into early summer. The fragrance is different from common lilac: musky, honeylike, not the sweet floral scent most people associate with lilacs. Native to Japan.

In Western Washington, Japanese tree lilac performs well in full sun with well-drained soil. It is tougher and more disease-resistant than common lilac, avoiding the powdery mildew that plagues Syringa vulgaris in our wet climate. The tree size and later bloom timing make it useful as a small street tree, a specimen, or a patio tree where the June flowers coincide with outdoor living. 'Ivory Silk' is the standard compact cultivar. No significant disease or pest concerns are tracked. For a lilac that has outgrown the shrub category and provides a small tree with late-season bloom and cherry-like bark, Japanese tree lilac fills a distinctive niche.