Syringa villosa

The late lilac is a perennial, deciduous shrub in the olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to the Russian Far East, northern China and the Korean peninsula. The specific epithet is Latin for “villose,” i.e. having long, soft hairs, and describes the leaf pubescence.

Late lilac grows best with good air circulation in organically rich, moist, slightly acidic soils with good drainage. Late 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 a dense shrub with a rounded habit, erect or ascending with stiff branches. Like all lilacs, it is cold-tolerant. 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, so its flowers are less likely to be blasted by frost. It is not as intensely fragrant as 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.