Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

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Photo:

Pat Kolling

Common Lilac

Latin Name:

Syringa sp.

Large shrubs known for their beautiful, fragrant blooms in spring.

Taxon ID#

94 MAINTENANCE

Maintenance Level:

Low

Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:

3 Sun Preference:

Partial Sun

Water Preference:

L

Soil Preference:

Prefers moist, fertile, organically rich, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soils with good drainage. Avoid soggy soils.

Fertilizer Needs:

Recommended Mulch:

Family:

Oleaceae

Origins:

Plant Type:

Med - Lg Shrub (usually >3' and never < 1.5')

Common lilac is native of Europe, introduced and naturalized in the United States.

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

no

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Foliage Color:

Green

Foliage Description:

The leaves are simple, ovate to broadly ovate, and five to twelve centimeters long.

Fragrant:

yes

Predominant flower color:

Purple

Flower Description:

Tubular, 4-lobed, lilac to purple flowers (each to 1/3" long) which bloom in large conical to narrow-pyramidal panicles (to 6-8" long).

Fall color:

no

Fall Color Description:

Winter Foliage:

Deciduous

Winter Interest:

no

Winter Interest Description:

Mature height:

8-12'

Mature spread:

6-12'

Growth rate:

Medium

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

Deer Resistant:

yes

Fire Resistant:

yes

Attracts Pollinators:

yes

Attracts Butterflies:

yes

Native Habitat:

Attracts Birds:

yes

Cut/Dried Flowers:

yes

Photo:

Used by Wildlife:

no

Hedge/Screen:

yes

Swales:

yes

Wildlife Use:

Border:

yes

Erosion Control:

no

Windbreak:

yes

Cover Structures:

no

Ground Cover:

no

Provides Shade:

no

Rock Garden:

no

Adds Texture/Movement:

no

First Bloom:

May

Last Bloom:

May

Ornamental Accent:

yes

Garden Observations:

Treated with beneficial nematodes 5/13/21

SEASONAL CARE

Spring Care:

Prune as needed immediately after flowering. To the extent practicable, promptly remove faded flower panicles before seed set. It is of vital importance to do this. Allowing the flower heads to go to seed greatly weaken the plant. These shrubs are not p

Summer Care:

Promptly remove root suckers, particularly on grafted plants, to maintain plant appearance and prevent unwanted colonial spread.

Fall Care:

Winter Care:

Long Term Care:

Propagate by cuttings in spring.

Insect Pests:

Wildlife Pests:

Diseases:

Powdery mildew https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-and-disease-descriptions?title=Lilac

Environmental Problems:

Should be planted in areas with good air circulation to reduce problems with powdery mildew.

Landscape Problems:

Suckering, Powdery mildew frequently attacks in summer. It can seriously affect the appearance of the foliage (unsightly whitish-gray patches begin to develop on the leaves in summer), but generally does little permanent damage to the shrub.

Care Comments:

Best grown in cool summer climates. Not recommended for planting in the hot and humid conditions

RESOURCES

OSU Landscape Profile:

https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/syringa-vulgaris

USDA Plants:

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SYVU

Calscape Database:

LBJ Native Plant Database:

Missouri Botanical Garden Database:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=282932&isprofile=1&basic=Syringa+vulgaris

Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

Photo:

Pat Kolling

Common Lilac

​

​

Latin Name:

Taxon ID#

94

MAINTENANCE

Low

Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:

3

Sun Preference:

Partial Sun

Water Preference:

L

Soil Preference:

Prefers moist, fertile, organically rich, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soils with good drainage. Avoid soggy soils.

Fertilizer Needs:

​

Recommended Mulch:

​

Family:

Origins:

Plant Type:

Med - Lg Shrub (usually >3' and never < 1.5')

Common lilac is native of Europe, introduced and naturalized in the United States.

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

no

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Foliage Color:

Green

Foliage Description:

The leaves are simple, ovate to broadly ovate, and five to twelve centimeters long.

Fragrant:

yes

Predominant flower color:

Purple

Flower Description:

Tubular, 4-lobed, lilac to purple flowers (each to 1/3" long) which bloom in large conical to narrow-pyramidal panicles (to 6-8" long).

Fall color:

no

Fall Color Description:

​

Winter Foliage:

Deciduous

Winter Interest:

no

Winter Interest Description:

​

Mature height:

8-12'

Mature spread:

6-12'

Growth rate:

Medium

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

Deer Resistant:

yes

Fire Resistant:

yes

Attracts Pollinators:

yes

Attracts Butterflies:

yes

Native Habitat:

​

Attracts Birds:

yes

Cut/Dried Flowers:

yes

Photo:

​

Used by Wildlife:

no

Hedge/Screen:

yes