Common lilac

Profile

Family

Oleaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

6 m

Spread

6 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

80 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 5–8

Shade tolerance

full sun

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very wet

pH

6.6 – 7.6

Uses

Edible: Flowers – raw or worked into batter and fried to make fritters.

Medicinal: The leaves and fruits act against fever, swellings, swellings and worms. Children used to chew the bark or leaves to soothe mouth pains.

Other uses: An essential oil is obtained from the flowers, which is used in perfume production. A green dye is obtained from the flowers. Green and brown dyes can be obtained from the leaves. A yellow-orange dye is obtained from the twigs. The plant is suitable as an informal hedge. It is often used as a rootstock for various ornamental lilac cultivars. Its main drawback is its strong suckering habit.

Growing

Thrives in most soils, including chalky soils, but does not tolerate acid soils. Prefers a deep, firm, well-drained loam in a warm, sunny position. This very decorative plant has a strong tendency to sucker. Numerous cultivars have been bred specifically for ornamental effect. The flowers attract butterflies and moths. Plants of this genus are particularly susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Sowing – sow in March in a north-facing cold frame. Pre-treating the seed with 4 weeks of warmth followed by 3 weeks of cold improves germination. Probably the more reliable method is sowing directly after ripening in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough. Plant them out in summer if they are large enough. Otherwise overwinter them in a cold frame and plant out in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of young shoots, 7 cm long with a heel, in June in a cold frame. Cuttings of semi-ripe wood, 7 cm long with a heel, in July/August in a cold frame. Layering in spring before the shoots emerge. Takes 12 months. Division of suckers in late winter. These can be planted directly at their final position.

Origin & habitat

Native to rocky hills and open woodlands or scrub in the southern Balkans, mainly occurring on neutral to slightly alkaline soils. It prefers moderately moist, well-drained loamy soils in partly shaded to sunny locations and can be found up to about 1500 meters elevation. In Central Europe, it is commonly naturalized at forest edges, hedgerows, railway embankments, and fallow land.

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