Persian Lilac

Persian Lilac

Syringa persica

Olive Family (Oleaceae)

▲ flowers

▲ ▼ mature shrub at southeast corner of lawn by McDonald Arena

▲ foliage

Location on campus: along raised wall along walkway, toward southeast corner of McDonald Arena

Syringa x persica: Persian Lilac

• leaves simple, opposite, deciduous, ovate-lanceolate; 1-2.5" long and 1/3 to 1/2 as wide; entire margins; dark green and glabrous above; often infected with powdery mildew
• stems tan, slender
• flowers pale lilac and fragrant in terminal panicles on previous season's wood in early to mid-spring
• grows 4-8' tall and 5-10' wide in a rounded spreading habit
• prefers full sun for best flowering, but very soil adaptable; very cold hardy
• slow growth rate