Lilac bushes and trees flowering in white or purple can be found in many German gardens. What is less known, however, is that there are around 20 to 25 different species of this olive tree plant - most of which are wonderfully suited as ornamental plants. The different lilacs are native to Europe, but also to Asia.

The lilac variety 'Charles Joly' impresses with its strong colour

The most beautiful varieties of common lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

The common lilac has been a very popular flowering shrub in our gardens for about five centuries. The multi-stemmed shrub can grow up to seven meters high and spreads through numerous runners. In May, the lilac unfolds its strongly fragrant, blue-violet flowers, which are held together in multi-flowered panicles that are 10 to 20 centimeters long. There are also numerous varieties with single or double flowers. Lilacs are suitable for both single and group planting, as well as for lush flowering hedges.

variety blossoms growth growth height growth width
'Souvenir of Ludwig Späth' dark crimson, single densely branched, bushy 250 - 350 cm 150-200cm
'Charles Joly' dark crimson, purple-white on the outside, double erect, dense, broader at the top 250 - 350 cm 125-175cm
'Katharine Havemeyer' lilac-pink in the bud, later lilac, half to double erect, dense, broader at the top 400-600cm 300-500cm
'Michel Buchner' pink purple with white eye, filled erect, densely branched 250 - 350 cm 125-175cm
'Mme Antoine Buchner' delicate mauve pink, filled erect, densely branched 300-500cm 200-400cm
'Mme Lemoine' Creamy yellow in the bud, white when open, double bushy, upright, densely branched 250-300cm 150-180cm
'primrose' greenish-yellow in the bud, light yellow when open, single upright, dense, funnel-like 400-600cm 300-500cm
,Sensation' purple-pink with a silvery border, single strong upright 250-400cm 125-175cm

Particularly lush flowering: Chinese lilac (Syringa x chinensis)

The Chinese lilac grows loosely upright with thin, arching branches. In old age it becomes between three and five meters high and just as wide. Purplish-violet, fragrant flowers appear in large, fairly loose racemes along the branches in May. The flowers of the 'Saugeana' variety are purple-red. In contrast to many other lilacs, the Chinese lilac is a wonderful solitary shrub with a rich bloom due to its pleasing structure. It is also occasionally drawn high-stemmed. This lilac also feels most comfortable in a sunny and warm location.

More lovely lilacs for pots and gardens

Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' is perfect for the pot, a little more than a meter high, compact, delicate and richly branched small shrub. Even the young plant flowers very profusely in numerous small panicles. The flowers are purple-pink in bud, eventually turning whitish-pink when open. The Syringa 'Josee', which is up to 150 centimeters high, is also well suited to being kept in a bucket due to its compact growth. Its flowers are purplish purple in bud, but pink when open.

Lilacs of the Villosae Group

Common features of the varieties in this group are their height of between three and four meters and their broad, upright growth. The flowers can be purple, pink or white. They grow together in long, narrow, dense panicles and bloom in June. All varieties flower profusely, are robust and very frost hardy.

tips

Even if the name suggests otherwise: The summer or butterfly lilac is not related to the lilac, but flowers just as lavishly - only later.

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Trees