Lilac

Common Name: Lilac
Scientific Name Genus: Syringa
Family Name: Oleaceae

Cultural Comments

Best grown in an average, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates light shade. Needs good air circulation to perform well. Pruning should be done immediately after flowering. Does not do well with wet soil or full shade.

Native Habitat

Native so southern Europe. Hardy zones 3-7.

Growth Habit

Upright form growing 8-15' tall and 6-12' wide. Multi-stemmed and suckering.
Syringa vulgaris form

Leaves

Leaves are opposite, ovate with a point to heart-shaped. Gray-green to blue-green in color. 2-5" long
Does not have good fall color.
Syringa vulgaris leaves

Bark and Stems

Smooth, light gray bark with raised leaf scars.

Flowers

Small, tubular, 4-lobed flowers create large panicles of flowers growing 6-8" long. Blooms occur in early May. Very showy
Flowers are lilac-purple with cultivars offering other shades of purple, pink, and white.

Fruit

Beaked capsules in long panicles. Not ornamental. Should be removed.
Lilac flowers
Deeper purple flowers
Double flower form

Bloom Time

May

Common Problems

Powdery mildew, blights, leaf spots, wilts, ring spot virus, scales, borers, leaf miners, thrips, and caterpillars.

Varieties or Cultivars

President Lincoln - blue-purple flowers, 8 feet tall by 10 feet wide
Charles Joly - deep magenta flowers, 12 feet tall by 10 wide
Avalanche - white flowers, 7-9 feet tall and wide
Sensation - purple with a white edge
Mme. Lemoine - double white flowers
Beauty of Moscow - pink buds that open to double, pink-white flowers that age to white
Ludwig Spaeth - reddish-purple flowers, later than other forms

Landscape Uses

Best used a specimen or accent where the fragrant flowers can be appreciated. Can also be used in the shrub border, cottage garden, or as a screen. Good as a cut flower.