For a year, I drove past a mature specimen growing near the nursery in someone’s front yard & I was enthralled by its beauty & extremely fragrant flowering sprays. The owners only knew it was a “lilac,” though it certainly wasn’t a Syringa. Later, I was able to discover its identity & learned it is a very attractive deciduous tree to 20’ tall & wide with a beautiful form & pretty, dark green, pinnate leaves. In Spring it bears masses of huge panicles (at least 24” long) of very sweetly fragrant, lavender, 5-petaled star flowers. The stout trunk has bark similar to an oak & the wood is very hard & beautifully grained (it’s related to Mahogany). This is one beautiful, tough, pest free & drought tolerant tree, perfectly suited to our climate. An excellent street tree, too. Plant carefully in southern States as it has become a bit weedy there.

Annie