Syringa or Lilac

Syringa commonly known as Lilac is a fragrant and popular flowering deciduous shrub or small tree. The varieties of commonly grown lilac, Syringa Vulgaris are available in a range of colors. Syringa adds beauty and scent to your garden. They grow to about 10 ft. or 3m. and are rather easy to grow. Some of the common varieties are Syringa lavanensis, S. ‘Pale Pink‘; S. ‘Edith Cavell’, S. ‘White’; S. ‘Katherine Havemeyer‘, Syringa ‘Purple’. Syringa is part of the Oleaceae family of plants. That is the Olive Family. It is native from Europe to eastern Asia.

Other common varieties include: Syringa chinensis or known as Chinese Lilac has rose-purple flowers; Syringa persica or Persian Lilac has 2 1/2 inch foliage and violet flowers.  All like alkaline soil, if your soil is acidy add lime. Thin out weak stems and cut the older stems. Syringa is food for the larvae of several insects such as copper underwing snd other Lepidoptera species.

Syringa leaves are opposite. They are simple and heart-shaped. The flowers are monoecious with fertile states. They are four-lobed clusters of fragrant flowers on panicles at the end of the branches. The usual color of the flower is purple but there are many variations.

Grow Syringa in the sun. Plant it in humus-rich, fertile, alkaline to neutral and well-drained soil. Light shade might work but it could sacrifice flower quality. They need winter chill to bloom well. Any pruning to shape should be sone right after the flowers are done, as they start preparing flowering buds almost after flowers are done. They tend to sucker, it is best to remove any suckers.