Summer Charm® Peking Lilac Tree

Summer Charm® Peking lilac is the DTR 124 selection, valued as a small ornamental tree with creamy-white early-summer flower clusters and green foliage. Published mature dimensions are about 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide; retain room for the rounded crown and recognize that growth varies by site. ## Form and flowering The Morton Arboretum describes ‘DTR 124’ as a rounded Peking lilac with finer foliage. Its fragrant flowers appear in early summer, followed by green leaves and a modest fall display. The selection was introduced as Summer Charm®; the International Lilac Society register records the cultivar and U.S. plant patent. ## Siting Plant in full sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. Peking lilacs tolerate urban conditions and moderate drought after establishment, but avoid persistently wet soil. Use as a specimen or small shade tree where its mature width can develop. ## Maintenance Prune after flowering to preserve the next season's flower buds. Water regularly while establishing; once established, irrigate during extended dry periods and keep the root zone draining freely. Sources: [Morton Arboretum: Peking lilac](https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/peking-lilac/); [International Lilac Society register](https://www.internationallilacsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ILS-register-updated-March-16-2026-final-locked.pdf).