Common Purple Lilac
The Common Purple Lilac has for generations been cherished by gardeners for it’s fragrant purple blossoms and its ability to create a lush green wall. Technically a multi-stemmed shrub, this Lilac grows vigorously and flowers in late spring. Their conical clusters of florets have a tube-shaped base with four spreading petal lobes. The leaves are smooth, dark green, heart shaped and bud out prior to the flowers. The Common Purple Lilac is quite hardy, deer resistant and requires very little care. They are excellent for hedges along the border of a property line or as a windbreak but can also be planted as a single specimen.
| Common Name |
Common Purple Lilac |
|---|---|
| Latin Name |
Syringa vulgaris |
| Form |
Shrub |
| Life Span |
100+ |
| Growth Rate |
Medium |
| Mature Height |
3.5m |
| Mature Spread |
2.5m |
| Flower Colour |
Purple |
| Fragrance |
Strongly Fragrant |
| Fall Colour |
Unremarkable |
| Soil Preference |
Widely adaptable but will not tolerate standing water |
| Exposure Preference |
Full sun |
| Cold Hardiness Zone |
Zone 3 |
| Special Attributes and Considerations |
Plant up wind of a window or pathway where the fragrant blooms can be enjoyed. Will spread by basal sprouting. |
| Folk Lore |
The Common Purple Lilac’s native range is in Balkans in South Eastern Europe. From there it spread to northern Europe as a favourite for gardeners. It was one of the most common plants brought to the prairies by our European settlers. In days gone by the expression, “Be ready to cut hay 40 days after the lilacs flower” was used as a simple schedule reminder. |
| Available Sizes |
150cm |
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