Unique Features: The China Snow lilac was selected from seed grown plants at the Morton Arboretum and introduced through the Chicagoland Grows program. The seeds were first collected in 1926 and a tree planted that same year is now 45’ x 40’. It is a subspecies of the Japanese tree lilac and has a slightly finer texture, but it is the bark that sets it apart. The shiny red brown bark exfoliates, or peels off, in translucent sheets and patches. This is especially striking when backlit by the low winter sun, the tree looks to have a golden aura. China Snow doesn’t bloom until June, so it misses the late spring frosts, and the blooms are more noticeable in the warmer weather. The fragrant, blooms are off white and held in good sized clusters across the tree.  The China Snow is resistant to bacterial blights, powdery mildew and the lilac borer.  Let us know how large your tree is in a 100 years!