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Syringa vulgaris 'Firmament'
  • RHS AGM

lilac 'Firmament'

A small deciduous tree with compact trusses of fragrant, pale lilac-blue flowers opening from pink buds. Heart-shaped, mid-green leaves

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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metres
Time to ultimate height
10–20 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Blue Green
Summer Blue Green
Autumn
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Oleaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Syringa can be deciduous shrubs or trees, with simple, entire or rarely pinnate leaves and conical panicles of small, very fragrant, 4-lobed tubular flowers in late spring or early summer

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Tolerant of a range of conditions but grows best in moist but well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in late spring, layering in spring, grafting in winter or chip budding in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Pruning group 1; tolerant of hard renovation pruning

Pests

May be susceptible to lilac leaf-mining moth, willow scale and thrips

Diseases

May be susceptible to lilac blight, honey fungus, phytophthora, powdery mildews and bacterial canker (Pseudomonas Syringae)

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