This week… lilacs

LILACS are exceptionally cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant deciduous shrubs, many of which will perform well even when badly neglected. They are among the most resilient of all garden shrubs, with many being long-lived.

The common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, is the wild lilac from which all modern varieties have been bred. The name Syringa comes from the Ancient Greek word syrinx, meaning pipe or tube, and refers to the easily hollowed-out branches of S. vulgaris.

Powerful fragrance

Some lilacs mature as shrubs, while some become small well-branched trees. Sadly, their foliage is generally an unremarkable dull green in colour, but their