Lilac — Peking – 'Summer Charm'
Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis
Lilac — Peking – 'Summer Charm' (Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wide, and needs low to medium water. Attractive copper-colored peeling bark.
low to medium water15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Rating
- Recommended
- Botanical name
- Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis
- Variety / cultivar
- Peking – 'Summer Charm'
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wide
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- purple
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer
- Good for
- hellstrip
Planting & establishment
Water deeply every 7–10 days through the first 2 summers. Winter water 1–2×/month October–March when soil is dry and unfrozen — winter desiccation is a top killer of newly-planted trees. Year 3: taper to 2×/month in summer, then rely on natural precipitation.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Lilac — Peking – 'Summer Charm' good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Lilac — Peking – 'Summer Charm' is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a tree suited to Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Lilac — Peking – 'Summer Charm' get?
- It matures to about 15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wide.
- How much water does Lilac — Peking – 'Summer Charm' need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Lilac — Peking – 'Summer Charm' native to Colorado?
- No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
