About
A bushy, upright to spreading shrub to 5m high, with broadly ovate, mid-green leaves that are bronze when young, and turn purple in autumn. Produces large, broadly conical panicles of aromatic, single, purple flowers in mid-spring.
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, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitSpreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationThrives in well-drained, fertile, humus-rich alkaline to neutral soils. Will tolerate some light shade but flowering is best in full sun. Mulch well in spring
PruningPruning group 1 or 2, after flowering
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings or layering in early summer, chip budding in summer or grafting in winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to lilac leaf-mining moth, thrips and willow scale insects
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to lilac blight, honey fungus and bacterial canker