Syringa vulgaris
common lilac
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The common lilac is a summer‑green shrub or small tree from the olive family, originally from the Balkans and now found in almost every German garden. In May it unfurls its characteristic, often densely packed racemes in violet, lilac, pink or white, emitting an unmistakable, intense fragrance. As a solitary plant, a free‑growing hedge, or in combination with other shrubs, it brings structure to larger gardens; popular cultivars such as "Charles Joly", "Mme Lemoine", or "Andenken an Ludwig Späth" are known for their especially abundant bloom. Older specimens can reach up to six metres in height and become long‑term anchor points in the garden.
Care instructions
Plant the lilac in a full‑sun to partial‑shade location with a well‑drained, humus‑rich, and as much as possible calcareous soil, the more sun, the more abundant the bloom. After flowering, remove the spent racemes directly at the base, without damaging the underlying buds, so the shrub can develop flower buds for the next year. Regularly remove suckers from the roots to maintain the lilac's shape and direct energy into the main stems. Once established, it is drought‑tolerant and very hardy, and in our climate zones it does not require winter protection.
Soil & site
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