Syringa villosa
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- si-RING-gah vil-OH-suh
- Description
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This plant is a dense shrub with a rounded habit, erect or ascending with stiff branches. It grows best with good air circulation in organically rich, moist, slightly acidic soils with good drainage. Villosa lilac does not do well in sandy soil, dry or poorly drained sites and prefers a soil pH - 5.5 to 8.0. It is less drought-tolerant than the Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) and does not tolerate standing water.
This plant is cold tolerant but flower buds that emerge early can get hit by a late frost. It is not as intensely fragrant as Syringa vulgaris. It produces new shoots from the base of old stems so it should not be pruned except to lightly shape. It flowers later than the common lilac. Following flowering, loose, brown capsules will form and remain on the plant.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: It is somewhat resistant to mildew, scales, and borers but is susceptible to blights, leaf spots, wilt, and ringspot virus. Insect pests include scales, borers, leaf miners and caterpillars.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Syringa
- Species:
- villosa
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Leaves and fruit are used to make a tonic for the treatment of sore throats.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern China and Mongolia, far eastern Russia
- Wildlife Value:
- It provides cover for birds. The flowers are a late spring source of pollen and nectar for bees and other insects. Attracts butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Description:
- Brown capsules located at the terminal tips of branches
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Trumpet
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Rosy lilac to white flowers on 4-8" dense pyramidal panicle on current season's growth.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dull, dark green leaves, 2-7" long, usually pubescent near the midrib, rarely glabrous, veins impressed.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Gray to gray-brown when older, smooth with many lenticels, but may become scaly when large.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Urban Conditions
- Wind
