About

Syringa vulgaris 'Charles Joly' is an upright, medium-sized deciduous shrub featuring dark green, heart-shaped foliage. In late spring and early summer, it produces dense clusters of double flowers that are deep red-purple and emit a pleasant fragrance.

About the genus

Syringa consists of deciduous shrubs or trees characterized by simple leaves that are typically entire, though occasionally pinnate. In late spring or early summer, they produce conical clusters of small, highly aromatic, 4-lobed tubular flowers.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, West-facing, North-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H6

Plant details

Plant type
Shrubs
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
2.5-4 metres
Spread
2.5-4 metres
Time to full height
10-20 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Fragrance
Flower

Care notes

Cultivation
Easy 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
Pruning
Pruning group 1. Tolerates hard renovation pruning
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings or layering in early summer. Grafting can be done in winter and chip budding in summer
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to lilac leaf-mining moth, willow scale and thrips
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to lilac blight, honey fungus, phytophthora, powdery mildews and bacterial canker (Pseudomonas Syringae)