Common Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
- Native to:
- Bulgaria, Greece, NW. Balkan Pen., Romania
Dmitry Makeev
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Genus:
- Syringa
- Species:
- Syringa vulgaris
- USDA Symbol:
- SYVU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 600 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, lavender, white, pink
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Ailanthus silkmoth (Samia cynthia), Ash Borer (Podosesia syringae), Calleta silkmoth (Eupackardia calleta), Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Columbia silk moth (Hyalophora columbia), Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidoides), Elegant sphinx (Sphinx perelegans), Great Ash Sphinx (Sphinx chersis), Harrisimemna trisignata, Io moth (Automeris io), Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella), Large Tolype (Tolype velleda), Lebeau's silk moth (Rothschildia lebeau), Lettered habrosyne (Habrosyne scripta), Lilac leaf miner (Caloptilia syringella), lilac sphinx (Sphinx kalmiae), Olceclostera seraphica, Plebeian Sphinx (Paratrea plebeja), Promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea), Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), Rothschildia cinctus, Rothschildia jorulla, Rustic Sphinx (Manduca rustica), Small-eyed Sphinx (Paonias myops), tentoriferella (Machimia tentoriferella), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica), Waved Sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Wild Cherry Sphinx (Sphinx drupiferarum), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis) Moths:Gracillaria syringella Butterflies:Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, hummingbirds
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Prefers calcareous soils in native habitat
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Cold stratification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI