About

A compact, bushy, rounded shrub, to 1.5m tall, with matt, oval to heart-shaped leaves. Dense sprays of perfumed, lavender-pink flowers are produced in late spring and intermittently through to late autumn; repeat flowering is best in cool climates.

About the genus

Syringa can be deciduous shrubs or trees, with simple, entire or rarely pinnate leaves and conical panicles of small, very fragrant, 4-lobed tubular flowers in late spring or early summer

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6

Plant details

Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
FragranceFlower

Care notes

CultivationGrow in well-drained, fertile, humus-rich, alkaline to neutral soil in full sun
PruningPruning group 1 or pruning group 2; prune lightly
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings or layering in early summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to lilac leaf-mining moth, willow scale and thrips
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to lilac blight, honey fungus, phytophthora, powdery mildews and bacterial canker (Pseudomonas Syringae)