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BEIJING GOLD™ Peking lilac

Syringa pekinensis 'Zhang Zhiming'

Common names:
BEIJING GOLD™ Peking lilac

Content Detail

This cultivar has creamy-yellow flowers, attractive cinnamon-colored bark, and unique yellow-gold fall color. The Peking lilac is a dependable urban tree and a great choice for parking lots, boulevards and parkway plantings. Native to Asia, it is both hardy and beautiful, with attractive amber-colored peeling bark.

  • Family (English) Olive
  • Family (botanic) Oleaceae
  • Planting site City parkway, Residential and parks, Under utility lines, Wide median
  • Tree or plant type Tree
  • Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
  • Native locale Non-native
  • Size range Small tree (15-25 feet)
  • Mature height 15-20 feet
  • Mature width 10-15 feet
  • Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7
  • Soil preference Acid soil, Alkaline soil, Moist, well-drained soil
  • Tolerances Alkaline soil, Dry sites, Road salt
  • Season of interest early summer, early fall, mid fall
  • Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, Yellow
  • Shape or form Round
  • Growth rate Moderate
  • Transplants well Yes
  • Wildlife Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Insect pollinators
  • Has cultivars NA

Native geographic location and habitat: 

This is a cultivated variety of a species that is native to China.

Bark color and texture: 

The bark is cherry-like in appearance. It is shiny, peeling, and cinnamon-colored.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture: 

The heart-shaped leaves are in pairs, opposite each other on the branches, 2 to 4 inches long, and with an entire margin. The leaves are green in the summer, turning yellow in the fall.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size: 

Large clusters of fragrant, creamy-yellow flowers appear in early summer.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions: 

The fruit are small dry capsules that are held in large clusters.

Plant care: 

BEIJING GOLD™ Peking lilac is tolerant of both acid and alkaline soil. Avoid planting it in wet sites. It is fairly drought tolerant once established. It should be pruned immediately after flowering.

List of pests, diseases, and tolerances: 

This tree shows resistance to bacterial blight, powdery mildew, scale insects, and lilac borers.

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