PLANT OF THE MONTH

Peking Lilacs are native to northern China, but grow in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7.

JIM FUNAI, Ph.D Cuyahoga Community College SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

SYRINGA PEKINENSIS

PEKING LILAC

Surely your company has planted their fair share of Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata), and most likely, ‘Ivory Silk’ as the dominant cultivar. These are great trees that do well in urban settings, as they can be situated under power lines and offer some flowering with OK fall colors. This month, we’d like to introduce you to what we think is an improvement upon the Japanese Tree Lilac, and that is Syringa pekinensis – Peking Lilac.

Some quick nitty-gritty… Most taxonomists have changed the name Syringa pekinensis to Syringa reticulata subspecies pekinensis, which is a move that places the Peking Lilac as a subspecies of Japanese Tree Lilac. Perhaps this is true from a DNA level, but from a practical standpoint – at landscape horticulture level – it does not matter, nor is it needed. From a visual interpretation though, there is enough of a difference between these two trees to consider them as separate species, so we are going to keep with that line of logic for this article.

Now, let’s talk about why you should plant this tree! As we all know, it can be difficult to find “below the wire” street trees. We also know, perhaps all-to-well, what happens to trees that reach too far into the electrical wires. Those poor trees become crownbutchered skeletons. That being understood, a tree like Peking Lilac does an exceptional job of minding its height, sticking around the 20 to 25 foot range. This means the top of the tree will be tickling the wires, but should not meet the threshold of the company contracted for line clearance. Of course some overzealous crew leader may decide to cut it back regardless, but those cuts would equate to a crown reduction, which will not cause major structural harm to the tree, unlike the giant holes they carve into larger trees.

The straight species of Peking Lilac will stretch from about 15 to 20 feet wide, but a highly improved form called ‘Great Wall’ continued on page 24

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stays closer to 12 to 15 feet wide, further suggesting that it may be used in a narrow devil-strip (“tree lawn” for you non-Akron natives calling devil strip by the wrong name).

Speaking of names, Bill Hendricks, of Klyn Nurseries, found this particular plant near the Great Wall of China during one of his visits there and aptly named it ‘Great Wall.’ During a study abroad in the spring of 2002, Jim visited the Great Wall (which is really a series of many different walls), north of Beijing, at a popular site named Badaling, then further west at Datong. In visiting these areas, one will find Syringa pekinensis growing along the steep slopes in rather gravely, dry soil, in full sun. Fortunately, the trees were in full bloom during Jim’s visit and it was easy to see variability in the size of the inflorescence, as well as a range from bright-white, to off-white, to softer yellow tones. It’s quite possible that there are even better selections to be found, hiding along the steep slopes adjacent to the thousands of miles of walls.

Bark is another feature of this tree that offers a little more interest than that of Japanese Tree Lilac. Most trees will have a copper-red to cinnamon colored bark which often peels in very thin sheets, like a Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum). This provides stunning winter interest, along with a more upright and finer texture in the crown, when compared to S. reticulata. Another difference is that S. pekinensis typically strives to be a multi-stem tree, whereas S. reticulata tends to be a single trunk. It is possible to train Peking Lilac into single-stem tree form, if preferred, and is a great point of discussion with the nursery you purchase them from.

Flowers are similar between the two, with Peking being a tad smaller and usually showing a few weeks before Japanese Lilac. Colors range by cultivar, with ‘Beijing Gold’ being a softer yellow hue and ‘Great Wall’ being a much clearer, bright white. All will fade quickly, like Japanese Tree Lilac, so if possible, it is ideal to deadhead the flowers, as they seem to boost more floral production the following year. We are aware that deadheading the tree is not going to happen with most clients, and that is fine, as this tree will still bloom strong each year, even if you never touch it.

Fall color is improved on these trees. Where S. reticulata quickly fades, S. pekinensis seems to have a stronger game with the yellow and oranges lasting for a week, or two. During the season, leaves are a deep-green with a little bit of sheen to them, making a great contrast to the flowers in early summer. Like all lilacs, the fruit is completely non-ornamental and will be unnoticed by all.

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Syringa is derived from the Greek word syrinx, which means tube, or pipe. This is a reference to the easily hollowed-out, soft pith in the stems, making them like little pipes. Pekinensis means “from Peking,” which is the same as Beijing. When westerners began colonizing the East, they created their own way of writing the words they heard, as they could not understand the culture’s writing. Peking was the first name for the capital of China, which is now called Běijīng, and is in Northeast China.

Syringa pekinensis is native across all of Northern China, which makes it very adaptable to the Ohio landscape. It is very adaptable to soil types, from slight-acidic to slight-alkaline, but does not thrive in heavy/wet soils. Ideal siting is a well-drained, loose soil, but it can tolerate the denser, junky soils found in the devil strip. There are not many issues for this plant, and it shows strong resistance to powdery mildew, unlike some other Syringa species.

Jim Funai, PhD. is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He has a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.

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