Syringa × chinensis, the Chinese lilac or Rouen lilac, is a hybrid species of flowering plant in the family Oleaceae.[1] [2] It was supposedly first noticed growing in Rouen, France in 1777.[2] In spite of its specific and common names, it most probably originated in western Asia.[3] It is the result of a cross between Syringa vulgaris (common lilac) and Syringa persica (Persian lilac).[3] A shrub or shrubby tree reaching, it is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7, and is recommended for borders, loose hedges, and foundations.[2]