Common Lilac

Growth habit

Shrub - Clonal

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Source of plant

Wayne Mezitt

Description

Original plant was selected from seedlings of unknown parentage in 1997; initial vegetative propagation took place in 1999. New growth is a distinctive red-bronze, changing within a few days to bronze-gold and then yellow chartruse as the flowers begin to open. During the flowering period the color of the foliage changes to the usual green for the remainder of the growing season. Thyrses are on average 20cm long and 15cm wide; usually there are two thyrses per flowering brangh. The florets are 1cm in diameter; the tubes 1cm long; the corolla lobes are flat; the floret color is in the Violet Group (RHS, 1966). At ten years of age the original plant is about 2.7m tall and 2.4m wide. Hardy to at least to USDA zone 5, but not yet tested elsewhere.

USDA Hardiness Zone

3

Special characteristics

foliage characteristics