Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis China Snow ('Morton')

RHS Plant Profile

Peking lilac [China Snow]

Synonyms

Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis 'Morton'
Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis 'China Snow'
Syringa pekinensis China Snow

Shrubs Trees

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An upright, bushy deciduous shrub or small tree to 5m high, with peeling, coppery bark and ovate to heart-shaped green leaves. Produces abundant, large clusters of tiny, creamy white fragrant flowers in late spring and early summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Oleaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright, Bushy
Genus: Syringa can be deciduous shrubs or trees, with simple, entire or rarely pinnate leaves and conical panicles of small, very fragrant, 4-lobed tubular flowers in late spring or early summer
Name Status: Trade

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained, fertile, humus-rich alkaline to neutral soils. This cultivar has some tolerance to drought

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings or layering in early summer, chip budding in summer or grafting in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1, after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to lilac leaf-mining moth, thrips and willow scale insects

Diseases

May be susceptible to lilac blight, honey fungus and bacterial canker