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Syringa vulgaris
  • Lilac

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

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Hedge
    Hedge
    There are no details available for this function.
  • Rootstock
    Rootstock
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • neutral,alkaline,very alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Syringa vulgaris has 0 edible uses listed
Syringa vulgaris has 0 material uses listed
Syringa vulgaris has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Flowers - raw or folded into batter and fried to make fritters[1].

Flowers

Unknown use

Material uses

An essential oil is obtained from the flowers. Used in perfumery[2].

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[4].

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[4].

Unknown part

Dye
Essential

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves and the fruit are antiperiodic, febrifuge, tonic and vermifuge[5]. The bark or leaves have been chewed by children as a treatment for sore mouth[6].

Unknown part

Antiperiodic
Febrifuge
Mouthwash
Tonic
Vermifuge

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Hedge


Rootstock

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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[4]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[4]. Layering in spring before new growth begins. Takes 12 months[7].

Division of suckers in late winter. They can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Syringa vulgaris. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils, including chalk, but dislikes acid soils[8]. Prefers a deep stiff well-drained loam in a warm sunny position[8][4].

A very ornamental plant[9], it does tend to sucker quite freely though[4]. There are many named varieties, developed for their ornamental value[10]. The flowers attract butterflies and moths[11].

Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[4].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Syringa vulgaris. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Syringa vulgaris.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Syringa vulgaris
Genus
Syringa
Family
Oleaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1]
Medicinal uses
[5][6]
Material uses & Functions
[2][3][4]
Botanic
[8][12][4]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Hedge, Rootstock
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    deciduous
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    moderate
    Mature Size
    6 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees, Lepidoptera
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 (1974-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.74.8 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    7. ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.2 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    9. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    10. ? Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)
    11. ? Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan ISBN 0-330-26642-x (1982-00-00)
    12. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-17" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

    "image:Vulgaris1b.UME.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Syringa_vulgaris&oldid=81174"
    Facts about "Syringa vulgaris"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyOleaceae +
    Belongs to genusSyringa +
    Functions asHedge + and Rootstock +
    Has binomial nameSyringa vulgaris +
    Has common nameLilac +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFlowers +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeBees + and Lepidoptera +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateModerate +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageVulgaris1b.UME.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useDye + and Essential +
    Has mature height6 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntiperiodic +, Febrifuge +, Mouthwash +, Tonic + and Vermifuge +
    Has primary imageVulgaris1b.UME.jpg +
    Has search namesyringa vulgaris + and lilac +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceNeutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy +, Clay + and Heavy clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameSyringa vulgaris +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Syringa vulgaris +, Syringa vulgaris +, Syringa vulgaris +, Syringa vulgaris +, Syringa vulgaris +, Syringa vulgaris +, Syringa vulgaris + and Syringa vulgaris +