Chinese lilac is also known as Rouen because this lilac was found in Rouen, France in 1777. Apparently, very little is known about its origins.

This is considered an heirloom plant. It is very popular in the Middle South.

This lilac is suited to zones 4 through 8. It does best where winters are mild and summers are hot.


Description of Chinese lilac

Chinese lilac is a rounded, upright shrub that is up to 8 to 12 feet in height with a spread of 6 to 10 feet. It is much more finely textured than the common lilac.

This shrub features spreading or arching branches. These are usually slender. The bark is light brown.

The oval to ovate leaves are 2 to 4 inches long. This long blooming shrub begins flowering in May. The richly scented blooms can be rosy purple, purple-lilac, purple-rose, or lavender-purple.

These lovely flowers are borne on large loose, crowded, nodding panicles. The clusters are 4 to 6 inches wide.

These blossoms are sure to attract butterflies. The flowers are perfect for cut flowers.

The seed capsules ripen to brown. These are 3 inches long.


Growing Chinese Lilac
Chinese lilac is a great choice for shelterbelts, borders, screens, and foundation plantings. This shrub is well adapted to urban areas.

As this shrub gets older, it benefits from an annual pruning after flowering has stopped for the season. Regular pruning will insure this shrub blooms freely year after year.

Unlike some other lilac, Chinese lilac doesn’t produce suckers, and requires slightly less care than most other lilacs.

Lilac is ignored by deer. This shrub is easy to grow. It is tolerant of occasional drought. Chinese lilac requires well drained soils, and adapts to most well drained, reasonably moist soils. It is tolerant of a range of pH levels from slightly acid to slightly alkaline conditions.

Chinese lilac does well in full sun and very light shade. Like most other lilacs, it can experience powdery mildew. For that reason, allow plenty of space around the plant so it will have good air circulation.

This lilac can sometimes suffer from twig and leaf blight, borers,, scale insects, and leaf miners.

Various forms of Chinese lilac are available. These include Lilac Sunday, which is resistant to disease. This variety features pale purple blooms.