Horticulture/Syringa vulgaris

Syringa vulgaris (Lilac or Common Lilac) is a large shrub in the olive family Oleaceae, native to the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe, where it grows on rocky hills.

Common Lilac is a very common ornamental plant in gardens and parks, because of the attractive, sweet smell of its flowers. Most garden plants are cultivars with flowers varying from white to dark lilac; some have double flowers with the stamens replaced by extra petals. The cultivar 'Aurea' has yellowish foliage. The majority of garden cultivars do not exceed 4-5 m tall. It is widely naturalised in western and northern Europe.

Description
It is a deciduous large shrub or small tree, growing to 6–7 m high, usually multi-stemmed, producing secondary shoots from the base or roots, with stem diameters of up to 20 cm. The bark is grey to grey-brown, smooth on young stems, longitudinally furrowed and flaking on older stems. The leaves are simple, 4–12 cm long and 3–8 cm broad, light green to glaucous, oval to cordate, with pinnate leaf venation, a mucronate apex and an entire margin. They are arranged opposite pairs or occasionally in whorls of three. The flowers have a tubular base to the corolla 6–10 mm long with an open four-lobed apex 5–8 mm across, usually lilac to mauve, occasionally white. They are arranged in a dense, terminal panicle 8-18 cm long. The fruit is a dry, smooth brown capsule, 1–2 cm long, splitting in two to release the two winged seeds.

Growing Conditions
Common lilac does best in full sun, tolerating most soils except wet soil. Siting for morning sun and good air circulation can help reduce the occurrence of powdery mildews, which are a major problem for this plant in humid climates.

Varieties
Numerous cultivars have been selected for size, flower color and form, and more recently for mildew resistance.

Uses
Usually grown as a specimen, but also for cut flowers.

Maintenance
Tolerates harsh pruning, but should only be pruned immediately after (or during) flowering to ensure the next year's bloom. The shrub produces copious suckers, which may either be pruned out or encouraged. To encourage a "tree-like form, remove all suckers as they emerge, or to keep size limited remove the oldest stems every year to keep the height under control.

Propagation
Propagate via cuttings or grafting to preserve follower color and form.

Harvest
Flowers hold up well in the vase if the leaves are removed.

Pests and Diseases
See ../Syringa/