Ivory Pillar™ Japanese Tree Lilac

Ivory Pillar is a narrow, upright Japanese tree lilac selected for a more vertical outline than the species. Fragrant white panicles appear in early summer, while bright green summer leaves turn slightly yellow in fall. ## Flowers and form The [Dawes Arboretum profile](https://dawesarb.arboretumexplorer.org/taxon-28348.aspx) identifies Ivory Pillar as the cultivar ‘Willamette’ and describes a large shrub or small tree about 20–25 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide. It reports fragrant, single white flowers in mid-June and an upright, narrow habit. The [University of Minnesota profile](https://trees.umn.edu/japanese-tree-lilac-syringa-reticulata) gives the same cultivar name and notes its narrower form. ## Siting Give the tree room to develop its vertical crown and plant it where its summer flowering can be seen and enjoyed. Japanese tree lilacs are used in residential and park landscapes; the Dawes Arboretum identifies this selection as a deciduous tree and lists USDA Zone 3 hardiness. ## Maintenance Allow the crown to develop naturally, removing damaged or crossing branches as needed. If shaping is necessary, prune after flowering so next season’s buds are not removed.