Syringa, Common Lilac, French Lilac 'Primrose'

Syringavulgaris

Family
Oleaceae (oh-lee-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Syringa (si-RING-gah)
Species
vulgaris (vul-GAIR-iss)
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Deciduous
Smooth
Height
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Spacing
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Pale Yellow
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other Details
Category
Shrubs
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Can be grown as an annual
Bloom Characteristics
Flowers are good for cutting
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From softwood cuttings
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
By grafting
By air layering
Seed Collecting
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Litchfield, Maine

Swartz Creek, Michigan

Litchfield, New Hampshire

Jamestown, Ohio

Norristown, Pennsylvania

Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

Collierville, Tennessee

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Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

4
positives
1
neutral
1
negative
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J
Litchfield, NH (Zone 5b) | May 2021 | negative

While this variety is supposedly both yellow and fragrant, I am with the prior reviewer who notes that it does not appear yellow, nor doe...Read More

J
Collierville, TN | March 2021 | positive

It is a carefree shrub in my zone 7b Memphis garden. Love the fragrance of this pollinator plant!

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | March 2015 | positive

The color is pale and pastel but decidedly yellow to my eye, and it makes a great contrast with the darker purple lilacs. I find the supe...Read More

G
Stroudsburg, PA | June 2011 | positive

This plant was purchased at Kmart about 4 or 5 years ago from in a box from a display case of mixed boxed plants. I didn't have much fai...Read More

R
Madison, WI (Zone 5a) | May 2009 | neutral

The one specimen of this I have seen (in an arboretum) did not appear yellow at all to me, but rather a pale creamy white. I could not de...Read More

T
St. John's, NL (Zone 5b) | February 2005 | positive

This is perhaps the most well known of the 'yellow' lilacs. The flowers are in fact a pastel primrose-yellow, certainly not bright. How...Read More

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