Lilac – Syringa vulgaris
Description
General: Syringa vulgaris is an upright, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that is native to Europe. It is suckering by nature and matures to 12-16′ tall and 8-10′ wide.
Leaves: Heart shaped leaves 2-5″ and dark green to blue green in color.
Flowers: Small, 4 lobbed flowers 1/3″, bloom in May on large conical panicles that are 6-8″. Color can range from white, rose, magenta, lavender to deep purple depending on variety. Flowers are very fragrant.
Bark: Gray
Attributes: What it lacks in the fall, a large specimen or hedge of lilacs makes up for in the spring, with abundant fragrant, beautiful flowers.
Culture
Hardiness: Zones 3- 7
Growing Conditions: Easy to grow in full sun for best flowering, but will tolerate some light shade. Average, medium moisture, well drained soils that are slightly acidic.
Maintenance: For best flowering, remove spent flowers as soon as possible to prevent it going to seed. They love to sucker and will colonize if not kept in check.
Transplanting: Best when plants are smaller, larger shrubs can become top heavy and require staking to keep upright.
Our Experience
Experience at Great Hill
Best flowering occurs in full sun. If air circulation is poor, when the humidity of the late summer hits, powdery mildew will set in and make the foliage look pretty bad. In time this can take a toll on unhealthy specimens and they can succumb to disease or lilac borer. Tall shrubs in moist areas can tend to be pushed over or break under heavy snow. Keep them pruned down under 8′ and in full sun with good air circulation and they will do fine.