Named for the old Romanized spelling of Beijing, Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis grows as an upright, arching shrub or small tree reaching 15 to 20 feet. What immediately sets it apart from the Japanese tree lilac is texture: smaller leaves, finer stems, and smaller flower clusters give the whole plant a lighter presence. But the most compelling feature may be the bark, which exfoliates in thin flakes or curling sheets revealing variable tones of amber, orange-brown, and cinnamon underneath. In winter, when little else holds the eye, that bark becomes the point.

Yellow-tinted flowers open from late May into June, providing a brief but fragrant late-season contribution to the garden. Like all lilacs, this one requires a period of winter cold to set its buds, so it performs best in zones 3 through 7 where that requirement is consistently met. It is more heat-tolerant than the typical Japanese tree lilac but slightly less cold-hardy at the upper end of its range. Plant in full sun with loose, well-drained, neutral soil. The naturally multi-stemmed habit can be trained toward a single trunk by removing lower, drooping branches over several seasons, which suits formal or avenue plantings.