Nodding lilac

Description

Syringa komarowii is a species of lilac native to central China, commonly called nodding lilac. It is native to the Provinces of Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan. It is a shrub growing to 3–6 m tall, with erect branches. The leaves are oval-oblong, 5–19 cm long and 2–7 cm broad. The flowers are fragrant and range in colour from pink to mauve, sometimes with a white base; they are produced in early summer on panicles 4–25 cm long and are attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds. The panicles often hang limply, which is how the plant got its common name; the clusters look as though they are nodding. There are two subspecies: Syringa komarowii subsp. komarowii C.K.Schneid. Syringa komarowii subsp. reflexa (C.K.Schneid.) P.S.Green & M.C.Chang. Like most lilacs, it needs to be planted in full sun. It is able to survive cold winters. The flowers are good for cutting. While this plant is beautiful, it is not commonly used in landscaping. However, it is used for breeding with other species of Syringa. Syringa (lilac) is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering woody plants in the olive family (Oleaceae), native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere. The genus is most closely related to Ligustrum (privet), classified with it in Oleaceae tribus Oleeae subtribus Ligustrinae. Lilacs are used as food plants by the larvae of some moth species, including copper underwing, scalloped oak and Svensson's copper underwing. They are small trees, ranging in size from 2 to 10 metres (6 ft 7 in to 32 ft 10 in) tall, with stems up to 20 to 30 centimetres (7.9 to 11.8 in) diameter. The leaves are opposite (occasionally in whorls of three) in arrangement, and their shape is simple and heart-shaped to broad lanceolate in most species, but pinnate in a few species (e.g. S. protolaciniata, S. pinnatifolia). The flowers are produced in spring, each flower being 5 to 10 millimetres (0.20 to 0.39 in) in diameter with a four-lobed corolla, the corolla tube narrow, 5 to 20 millimetres (0.20 to 0.79 in) long; they are monoecious, with fertile stamens and stigma in each flower. The usual flower colour is a shade of purple (often a light purple or lilac), but white, pale yellow and pink, and even a dark burgundy color are also found. The flowers grow in large panicles, and in several species have a strong fragrance.