Practical
Plants

Syringa vulgaris

Lilac

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Syringa genus in the family Oleaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Oleaceae
Genus
Syringa
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
6 m
Fertility
Bees, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Flowers - raw or folded into batter and fried to make fritters[7].

Plant part
Flowers

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves and the fruit are antiperiodic, febrifuge, tonic and vermifuge[11]. The bark or leaves have been chewed by children as a treatment for sore mouth[9].

Product or use
Antiperiodic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Mouthwash
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil is obtained from the flowers. Used in perfumery[5]. A green dye is obtained from the flowers[3]. Green and brown dyes can be obtained from the leaves[3]. A yellow-orange dye is obtained from the twigs[3]. Plants can be grown as an informal hedge[8]. The plant is often used as a rootstock for the various ornamental cultivars of lilac. Its main disadvantage is that it can sucker very freely[8].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Essential

Environment

Range
E. Europe. Occasionally naturalized in Britain[4].
Habitat
Scrub on rocky hill slopes in Europe[12]. Found in hedges, thickets and shrubberies in Britain[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow March in a north facing cold frame. Pre-treating the seed with 4 weeks warm then 3 weeks cold stratification improves germination. It is probable that sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame would be a more reliable method[K]. Prick the seedlings out into individual pots once they are large enough to handle. Plant them out in the summer if sufficient growth has been made, otherwise grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter and plant out in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of young shoots, 7cm with a heel, June in a frame[8]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[8]. Layering in spring before new growth begins. Takes 12 months[13]. Division of suckers in late winter. They can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils, including chalk, but dislikes acid soils[2]. Prefers a deep stiff well-drained loam in a warm sunny position[2][8]. A very ornamental plant[1], it does tend to sucker quite freely though[8]. There are many named varieties, developed for their ornamental value[6]. The flowers attract butterflies and moths[10]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

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  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

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  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

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  10. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

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  11. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

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  12. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  13. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

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