About
A spreading medium-sized deciduous shrub with dark green, heart-shaped leaves and perfumed, single, deep wine-red flowers in slender panicles to 30cm long.
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, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationTolerant of a range of conditions but grows best in moist but well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in full sun
PruningPruning group 1; tolerant of hard renovation pruning
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in late spring, layering in spring, grafting in winter or 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)