I went grocery shopping with my husband last Sunday, and in the parking lot we saw some trees blooming with cream colored panicles of flowers reminscent of lilacs. The blossoms weren’t heavily fragrant, but smelled a bit like lilac, too. Driving home, I saw the same trees blooming in a local park–but what were they? My husband guessed linden, but a search on the web didn’t confirm that guess. I finally called the grocery store and found out they were ‘Ivory Silk’ Japanese tree lilacs (Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’). This site has photos most similar to the ones we saw. According to information on the web, they are hardy to Zone 3, but don’t take well to mechanical damage (from string trimmers and tricycles, etc.). The fragrance that I thought hinted of lilacs was described as similar to privet (which lilacs are related to), but I don’t recall ever smelling privet. The foliage was quite dense and created heavy shade. It seems to me this could be a great tree to shade a patio in summer if it was sited to block the sun. A whole row of them would make a great privacy screen.
I had passed these trees many times before without giving them a thought, until I saw them in bloom. I thought I’d share my new discovery with you.
About Kathy Purdy
Kathy Purdy discovered the joys of writing in fourth grade, when she started corresponding with a former classmate. She's been writing letters ever since, first on looseleaf, then electronically, and now as weblog entries. That makes you, the blog reader, her pen pal. Her first independent (though frustrating) attempts at gardening were made in high school, though the gardening bug didn't bite hard until her mid-thirties, when she found herself mistress of a rural home on 15 acres. • USDA Hardiness Zone:4 • AHS Heat Zone: 3 • Location: rural; Southern Tier of NY • Geographic type: foothills of Appalachian Mountains • Soil Type: acid clay • Experience level: intermediate • Particular interests: colchicums, narcissus, cottage gardening, NY native plants, gardening with/for children
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Where can you buy the Ivory Silk Lilac Tree in upstate NY