Syringa, Common Lilac, French Lilac 'Wonderblue'

Maybe this lilac stays as small as claimed (8 feet maximum, often advertised as smaller) when it's planted where it's not happy. I casua...Read Morelly shoved my plant in the exposed front yard in clay under river rocks, plenty of dry heat in summer, plenty of dry cold in winter. I guess that's what it likes best, because it has grown steadily year after year. It's over 10 feet tall now, dense and green during the growing season. Granted, other S. vulgaris varieties tend to reach 15' x 15' here, neglected and just allowed to grow. 'Wonderblue' (aka 'Little Boy Blue') seems to think it should keep up with its larger siblings. The flowers are nice, classic shape, color and fragrance. I find the bush unremarkable when not blooming, but a nice shape and good green leaves all the same.

I have this bush paired with the species rose Rosa hugonis. The pale yellow, abundant single flowers are spectacular with the lilac, which blooms at the same time. The rose also likes the location, so both plants are larger than commonly described. Again, I don't know how, given that this is high, dry desert in Reno/Sparks, Nevada.

Very prone to mildew, also leggy. Blooms only last for a week. After waiting 5 years for it to bloom and then getting two good years' wo...Read Morerth of flowers, I'm reluctant to take it out, but it's not even June and the leaves are already yellowing, even with treatment. Add in it's messy form, and I'm very disappointed.

However, the flowers are incredibly beautiful and do not seem to be affected by the mildew. Very fragrant and stunning up close. From a distance, as a landscape plant, does not make much of an impact., even for the short time it's in bloom.

Hardy, undemanding. Compact and bushy. Survives drought, transplanting etc. and still flowers! Lavender buds open pale blue - beautiful!