Although it's available in over 1000 varieties and includes a color range of white, pink, lilac & purple, the plain old species of a beloved flowering shrub still remains a tried and true standby. We're referring, of course, to the Syringa vulgaris, more commonly known as "Grandma's Lilac", the "Fragrant Lilac", and the "Common Lilac." A native of southeastern Europe, the common lilac's name was derived from an Old English word that has its roots in the Arabic word layak and the Persian word nilak, from nil meaning "blue." The genus name syringa means "tube" in Greek, which refers to the individual flower shape. Cultivated since 1563, hundreds of lilacs have been developed since that time. French hybrids are cultivars of the common lilac, and may include additional enchanting shades of blue & red. The "French" comes from Victor Lemoine, whose nursery in France produced a great many of these hybrids. Despite the abundance of French hybrids, however, Grandma's Lilac proffers the quintessential lilac color & the best scent of any lilac; it has inspired myriad candle fragrances and sachets the world over. White lilacs symbolize modesty, purity & youth, while purple lilacs signify the first emotions of love. Considered a flowering tree or shrub, the Syringa vulgaris grows throughout zones 3 through 7 in the United States. The dark green leaves of the Fragrant Lilac are opposite, simple, ovate, and 2"-5" wide; they turn bluish-green in summer but exhibit no significant fall color. For a two-week period in late spring, these beloved shrubs produce spectacular flowers that are very fragrant, light purple, 1/2" florets borne in 4"-8" panicles, usually in pairs on previous year's growth. An extremely hardy shrub with a medium rate of growth, Grandma's Lilac reaches mature heights of 8' to 15' with hearty spreads of 6' to 12'. Often used for hedges, screens, or as an individual landscape shrub, the common lilac thrives with full sun to partial shade in soil that’s acidic or alkaline, moist, sandy, and well drained. The nostalgic aroma of the Fragrant Lilac unequivocally denotes the "coming of spring", while its blooms attract myriad butterflies. So, we'll close with a question: What's not to love about this old time garden favorite?
This color coordinated collection of fashion fabrics was first featured in our Vogue Fabrics By Mail Spring 2011 catalog of swatches. Subscribe to receive home delivery of these catalogs every other month.
