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Persian Lilac Wikimedia Commons
Oleaceae

Persian Lilac

Syringa x persica

First love and the sweetness of spring.

Family
Oleaceae
Genus
Syringa
Native to
Afghanistan, Iran (hybrid origin)
Bloom season
Spring
Type
deciduous shrub
Height
150–250 cm
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, neutral to alkaline
Water
moderate
Hardiness
3–7
Lifespan
perennial shrub; decades

Did you know

  • It is more compact and graceful than the common lilac, making it ideal for smaller gardens.
  • The fragrance is lighter and more delicate than common lilac but equally intoxicating on a spring breeze.
  • It rarely suffers from powdery mildew, a major problem for common lilac varieties.
  • Despite the name, it is thought to be a hybrid that originated in cultivation, not truly from Persia.
  • In the Victorian language of flowers, purple lilacs signified the first emotions of love.

Color meanings

Lavender

first emotions of love

Purple

passionate memories

White

youthful innocence

Uses

  • hedging
  • specimen shrub
  • fragrance gardens
  • cut flowers