Syringa, Common Lilac, French Lilac 'Krasavitsa Moskvy'

I bought two Beauty of Moscow lilacs a couple years ago and they were planted in a garden bed in mostly sun and doing very well. Then on...Read Moree winter, while it was dormant, my yard guy covered them with a pile of rocks he moved out of another garden bed. Of course they both died, but I had taken a cutting the year before and I planted in the same bed ( sun exposure) and it is now about 8 feet tall. It only has one stalk, or trunk, not several as others have said. Maybe if I gave it a pruning it would encourage a fuller growth. I just took more cuttings since they took so easily, and next year will add to my sole remaining stalk of lilac. It smells divine.

I've always though of this as one of the best of cultivars of common lilac. Buds are dusty rose, and the large double flowers open attrac...Read Moretively tinged with this color as well, aging to white. Flower clusters are large as well.

This is singled out by Jack Alexander (chief propagator for the Arnold Arboretum and its famous lilac collection) as one of the best of the "white" lilacs.

Like other common lilacs, this will not flower or indefinitely survive where the climate does not allow sufficient cold dormancy. Its southern limit is roughly Z7.

Moving to north Texas ( McKinney) 8 years ago from MA I stupidly ordered my favorite plants via catalogue because I could not find them...Read Morer /> Locally. The Beauty of Moscow lilac was put in a amended spot near large trees on the north east corner of my house. It's now 8 years and I've got over 12 blooms. I know that's not much for a lilac but I cherish those flowers every year. It would probably give more blooms if there was a bit more sun for it. But I don't dare trim too much for fear of the terrible sun/ heat. As its grown taller the blooms are getting better since I guess the top of it is getting the most hours of sun. I may add some mulched pine needles to
See if a bit lower PH in our super alk. Soil might help
It get more of what it needs. Im careful not to over water it even in the hot hot summer. It is a slower grower here....But it's worth trying your favorites even if the locals tell you not to. In Texas it's about location and soil.

Enormous panicles of tightly doubled flowers, somewhat stingily produced. Big and sometimes ungainly plant. I find that oftentimes the fl...Read Moreowers suffer some sort of rain damage. Scented enough but nothing to write home about compared to other lilacs.