About

A bushy, spreading medium-sized deciduous shrub with small, dark green, broadly-ovate leaves and scented, single, long-tubed, rosy-pink flowers in loose panicles.

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, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6

Plant details

Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesSpecimen planting, large borders, parkland settings.
FragranceFlower

Care notes

CultivationEasy to grow in most well-drained, fertile, humus-rich alkaline to neutral soils. Thrives in chalky ground and appreciates mulching when planted in full sun
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings or layering in early summer. Grafting can be done in winter and chip budding in 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)