Looking for a classic ornamental tree for your landscape that provides great interest, bountiful and beautiful early summer blooms and a perfumy, intoxicating scent?
Look no further than the Japanese lilac tree.
It bridges the gap between the early spring blooming trees and the summer flower show. As the last lilac to bloom, you’ll be so happy you have some sweet scents and showy cream-colored flowers to enjoy.
Whether you already have a Japanese lilac in your yard or you’re thinking about planting one, we offer some insight into popular varieties, as well as care tips to ensure your tree keeps blooming for years to come.
The Japanese lilac is native to northern Japan and a part of the olive family. Most people prefer versatile plants, and that’s where the Japanese lilac tree delivers.
Place it near your patio where you can see it and smell the flowers. Or you can plant it in your front yard where its showy blooms can look striking from a distance. It can be an anchor in one of your landscape beds or mixed with other plants of various sizes to create a lush area.
The Japanese lilac tree size is considered medium among other trees. It can grow to a height of up to 30 feet with a 15- to 20-foot spread. It grows in a graceful, upright, attractive shape with reddish bark with white markings.
Japanese lilac tree leaves are simple and oval in shape, ranging from 3 to 6 inches long. Medium green leaves turn pale greenish-brown in autumn before they drop.
The tree blooms in clusters that can be up to 10 inches wide and 1 foot long. The creamy, white Japanese lilac tree flowers have a sweet fragrance, delivering early summer delight for approximately two weeks.
If you’re looking to add this special tree to your yard, try one of these popular Japanese lilac tree varieties:
Most Japanese lilac tree varieties are fairly easy to maintain with timely watering, good drainage, and proper pruning time.
Pay attention to these Japanese lilac traits to ensure a happy plant and bountiful blooms.
As the most trouble-free lilac, the Japanese lilac tree is a great choice in urban landscapes, in group plantings, or even as special specimens.
Japanese lilac trees transplant easily and adapt to compact or dry soils. They can tolerate some drought, but remember to keep the ground evenly moist and make sure the soil drains well. For the best blooms, you’ll love this tree best if you plant it in full sun.
While this tree has good resistance to powdery mildew, scale, and borers, it can be susceptible to bacterial blight and leaf spots. These Japanese lilac tree problems cause blackened buds and branches and can develop in wet conditions, especially following injuries to the plant in fall or winter.