About
A small deciduous tree with compact trusses of perfumed, pale lilac-blue flowers opening from pink buds. Heart-shaped, mid-green leaves.
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
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing, West-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 usesCottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal
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)