Lilac Purple - Hardy plant

Make sure the root ball of Syringa vulgaris is well-moistened by soaking it in a bucket of lukewarm water prior to planting. Prepare a suitable hole in humus-rich soil. Plant the root ball of the lilac at the correct depth in the hole - the top of the root ball should be just slightly below ground level. Fill the hole with soil, press firmly and water immediately after planting. Place the shrub in a sheltered spot with in full sun or light shade. Lilac makes a great pot plant Syringa vulgaris can be grown in a large pot - 'large' to prevent the shrub from falling over. The planter must have adequate drainage and have a layer of potsherds on the bottom, or some gravel. Plant the well-drenched root ball in the pot, fill with potting compost, press well and water immediately.

Water your Lilac regularly, especially when growing it in a pot, as it doesn't like dry soil. In fact, water it more often during dry periods. Cover the soil around the bush with a layer of compost and fertilise it early in the spring. Pruning Lilac After flowering you can prune the branches of the Syringa vulgaris. Cut all branches that have flowered back to a young shoot - leave these to flower next spring. Remove suckers growing up from the roots. Lilacs that are not pruned will grow to 3 or 4 metres tall over several years but it does respond well to pruning and it is easy to keep it at around 2 metres. This makes this particular lilac suitable for the smaller garden.

The much admired lilac blooms May-June. White or purple flower clusters of Syringa vulgaris spread a fantastic fragrance.
This lilac grows wild within many parts of southern Europe. Did you know that the lilac tree belongs to the Olive family?