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June 15, 2005
What's Blooming 6/14
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One of the prettiest flowering trees around and one of the last to bloom in the spring, is Syringa reticulata or Japanese tree lilac. It's a small tree of about 20 to 30 feet in height, and it has a 15 to 20 foot spread. The dark green leaves emerge early in the season, but the showy flower panicles wait until mid June to appear and then they smother the tree with fragrant creamy white blossoms.
There is a beautiful specimen in full glory right now in the South Garden of Central Park's Conservatory Garden. Although not as ubiquitous as the Bradford pear (What's blooming March), Japanese tree lilacs are being used more frequently in urban landscapes, as they make excellent street trees; not too big, and tolerant of polluted city conditions. This one on the right is in Washington Market Park in Tribeca.
Posted by gardenguidenyc at June 15, 2005 05:18 PM