Syringa pubescens explained

Syringa pubescens is a species of flowering plant in the lilac genus of the family Oleaceae, native to Korea and China (Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Jilin, Liaoning, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan).^[1]

Growing to 60NaN0 tall and broad, it is a substantial deciduous shrub with green leaves felted white beneath, and panicles of heavily scented, white-throated lilac flowers in early summer.^{[2] [3] [4]}

The Latin specific epithet pubescens means "downy", referring to the texture of the leaves.^[5]

Three subspecies (formerly listed as separate species) are recognized :^[6]

• Syringa pubescens subsp. julianae - syn. S. julianae
• Syringa pubescens subsp. microphylla - syn. S. microphylla
• Syringa pubescens subsp. patula (also Syringa velutina) - syn. S. patula (Korean lilac,^[7] Manchurian lilac^[8])

The cultivar S. pubescens subsp. microphylla 'Superba' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^{[9] [10]}

According to some authorities^[11] Syringa meyeri C.K.Schneid. is a synonym of S. pubescens. The cultivar ‘Palibin’ has also won the AGM.^[12] However, the nearly palmate leaf venation of plants labelled S. meyeri is noticeably distinct from the pinnate venation of other forms of S. pubescens.

Notes and References

1. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200017816 Flora of China, v 15 p 283, Syringa pubescens
2. Book: RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. 2008. Dorling Kindersley. United Kingdom. 978-1405332965. 1136.
3. Web site: Missouri Botanical Garden - Syringa pubescens subsp. microphylla. 5 June 2013.
4. Turczaninow, Nicolai Stepanowitsch. 1840. Bjulleten Moskovskogo Obačestva Ispytatelej Prirody, Otdel Biologičeskij 13: 73
5. Book: Harrison, Lorraine. RHS Latin for gardeners. 2012. Mitchell Beazley. United Kingdom. 9781845337315. 224.
6. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=356276 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Syringa pubescens
7. Book: English Names for Korean Native Plants. Korea National Arboretum. 2015. 978-89-97450-98-5. Pocheon. 651. 8 December 2016. Korea Forest Service. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170525105020/http://www.forest.go.kr/kna/special/download/English_Names_for_Korean_Native_Plants.pdf. 25 May 2017.
8. Web site: Manchurian Lilac (Syringa pubescens subsp.patula) - Selecting Shrubs for Your Home - University of Illinois Extension.
9. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Syringa pubescens subsp. microphylla 'Superba' . 5 March 2021.
10. Web site: AGM Plants - Ornamental . July 2017 . 100 . Royal Horticultural Society . 30 November 2018.
11. Web site: Syringa meyeri . The Plant List . 30 November 2018.
12. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' . 30 November 2018.