Syringa sp.
Lilac

Family:

Oleaceae (Olive Family) 45

Genus:

Syringa (Lilac Tree Lilac) 14

Plant Type:

Shrub/Tree 79

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 815

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Prefer fertile, well-drained, alkaline soils; do not tolerate heavy clay soils

Range:

Most are native to northeast Asia, but there are two species that are native to Europe

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves are opposite, simple, heart-shaped to elliptical, and pointed generally with entire margins, but sometimes (rarely) lobed. The small, 4-petaled flowers can be single or double and occur in panicles. Flowers can be a wide range of colors, including purples, pinks, and whites.

Special Characteristics:

Flowering Characteristics 357

Fragrant Flowers 181

Border 378

Hedge 255

Specimen 612

Additional Information

The Lilac genus, Syringa, is composed of over 20 species and numerous cultivars and variants of shrubs to small trees. The most well-known feature of lilacs is their showy, many times fragrant, flower panicles. Lilacs prefer cooler climates. Leggy plants can be rejuvenated by a hard pruning in the winter, with less intensive maintenance pruning after flowering. Can be affected by powdery mildew, leaf spot, borers, and blight.