Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Pollinators
- Butterflies & moths
The fragrant flowers draw butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators in early summer.
Ships bare root
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
tree
Peking Lilac
Syringa pekinensis
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 3–7
- Grows 15–20 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
No reviews yet. Be the first to reviewThe quick answer
Peking lilac is a small tree lilac for USDA zones 3-7 that grows 15-20 ft tall and 10-15 ft wide in full sun. Buy it for big, fragrant creamy white flower clusters in early summer, after common lilacs finish, plus amber peeling bark and some resistance to powdery mildew.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Peking Lilac plant profile
Mature size15–20 ft tall · 10–15 ft wide
Typical (15 ft)Up to 20 ft
Small, upright tree or large multi-stemmed shrub with a rounded crown and amber to cinnamon, slightly peeling bark.
USDA hardiness zones3–7
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Plant in full sun for the best bloom.
SoilpH 6.0–8.0
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers moist, well-drained soil and tolerates acidic and alkaline soils, but not wet sites.
Minimal; yellow-green fall color
Flowers & fruit
Large, fragrant creamy white flower clusters bloom in early summer, followed by dry brown seed capsules.
Leaves & fall color
Minimal; yellow-green in fall. Dark green, pointed oval leaves show little fall color, turning yellow-green.
Pests & disease
No serious diseases and some resistance to powdery mildew; lilac borer, caterpillars and leaf miners occasionally occur.
Pruning
Prune right after flowering to shape, and remove dead or crossing branches in late winter.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Peking Lilac
SPRINGDark green leaves emerge
SUMMERLarge creamy white, fragrant flower clusters in early summer, after common lilacs
LATE SUMMERDry seed capsules form
FALLLittle fall color; amber, peeling bark shows through winter
Questions people ask about Peking Lilac
When does a tree lilac bloom?
Peking lilac blooms in early summer, a few weeks after common lilacs, with large creamy white fragrant clusters.
Is Peking lilac the same as Japanese tree lilac?
They are close relatives: Japanese tree lilac is Syringa reticulata and Peking lilac is Syringa pekinensis. Both are white-flowered tree lilacs hardy to zone 3.
How big does a Peking lilac get?
Typically 15-20 ft tall and 10-15 ft wide, small enough for most yards.
Does Peking lilac get powdery mildew?
It has no serious diseases and shows some resistance to powdery mildew; lilac borer, caterpillars and leaf miners can occasionally show up.
What arrives when I order a Peking lilac?
A dormant bare-root plant, 2-3 ft tall, with no leaves. Plant it promptly in a sunny, well-drained spot.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
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Plant facts checked October 2026 against: Morton Arboretum, NC State Extension.