Japanese Tree Lilac

Scientific Name:
Syringa Reticulata 

Average height at maturity:
20 to 30 feet 

Average width of canopy at maturity:
15 to 25 feet

Leaves and bark:

  • The Japanese tree lilac has dark green leaves that have an oval shape with a rounded base and are in opposite pairs on each branch.
  • The Japanese tree lilac has reddish-brown bark.

Other fun and interesting facts:

  • The Japanese tree lilac has small, fragrant, creamy white flowers that bloom later than shrub lilacs.
  • The Japanese tree lilac belongs to the olive family, which also includes olive trees and forsythia.
  • The Japanese tree lilac is very adaptable and can even tolerate the spray from road salt that is used in the winter.
  • Look for Japanese tree lilacs in Wood Park and along many streets in Leonia.

 

Sources:

https://arborfacts.com/flowering/japanese-lilac-tree/
https://hles.unl.edu/plant-month-japanese-tree-lilac
https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/japanese-tree-lilac/
https://www.centralparknyc.org/plants/japanese-tree-lilac
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/syringa-reticulata/
https://bernheim.org/learn/trees-plants/bernheim-select-urban-trees/japanese-tree-lilac/

 

Photo Credit to Ben Leynse
Information compiled as part of Robert Slater’s 2023 Eagle Scout Project