General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Moderately alkaline (7.9 – 8.4)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 8b
Plant Height: 8 to 10 feet
Plant Spread: 8 to 10 feet
Leaves: Deciduous
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Blooms on old wood
Flower Color: Purple
Flower Time: Spring
Wildlife Attractant: Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Pollinators: Moths and Butterflies
Bees
Miscellaneous: Monoecious
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM
Child plants: one child plant

Image
Common names
  • Common Lilac
  • French Lilac
  • Lilac
Also sold as:
  • 'Andenken an Ludwig Späth'
  • 'Ludwig Spaeth'
  • 'Andenken an Ludwig Spaeth'
  • 'Souv. de Ludwig Späth'
  • 'Souvenir de Ludwig Späth'

Photo Gallery
Location: Mount Pocono, PA
Date: 2021-05-17
close-up of flower clusters
Location: Berlin, Germany
Date: 2022-05-04
Location: Wiesbaden - Germany
Date: 201-04-16
Location: Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Date: 2016-04-30
Location: Tyler Arboretum, Media, PA
Date: 2016-04-30
Location: Mount Pocono, PA
Date: 2021-05-17
shrub in bloom
Location: Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-04-24
Location: Mount Pocono, PA
Date: 2021-05-17
this cultivar with a regular Common Lilac and a white bloomer
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on May 21, 2021 1:57 PM concerning plant:
    This is one of the more common French Hybrid Lilacs introduced to the trade in 1883. It has darker purple flowers than most cultivars; flowers are single, and they are very excellently fragrant.
Plant Events from our members
AndreA33 On April 21, 2016 Transplanted
AndreA33 On March 20, 2016 Obtained plant
Lidl
SkirtGardener On September 12, 2020 Obtained plant
» Post your own event for this plant

« Add a new plant to the database

» Search the Lilacs Database: by characteristics or by cultivar name

« See the general plant entry for Lilacs (Syringa)

« The Lilacs Database Front Page

« The Plants Database Front Page