About
A small, spreading, bushy, deciduous shrub with dark green, wavy-edged leaves which turn to purple in the autumn, and purple buds opening to aromatic pale purple flowers, fading to near white with age.
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, East-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden
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. Tolerates hard renovation pruning
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)