Syringa vulgaris 'Henri Robert': Common Lilac with Double Bluish-Purple Flowers

Common Lilac 'Henri Robert' (Syringa vulgaris 'Henri Robert') has double bluish-purple flowers opening from violet buds in midseason. Forms a shrub 12 feet high by 8 feet wide. Lilac flowers are beloved for bouquets; hummingbirds and butterflies visit. Generally forgiving, tolerant of roadside sites and neglect.

Growing Conditions

Reasonably fertile, well-drained soil in full sun; prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Deadhead promptly. Prune lightly or renovate in late winter or early spring. Good air circulation. Fire retardant. Requires chilling dormancy. Propagate by seed in cold frame, softwood cuttings or layer in early summer, graft in winter, bud in summer. Watch for powdery mildew, dieback, leafroll virus, MLO, root knot nematode, Verticillium wilt, witches' broom, bacterial leaf spot, anthracnose, borers, scale, caterpillars.

Key Features at a Glance

• Height: 10–15 ft.
• Spread: 6–10 ft.
• Growth Habit: Spreading, Moderate
• Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Moisture: Medium
• Maintenance: Low
• Characteristics: Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Fragrant Flowers, Showy Flowers
• Bloom Time: Spring
• Flower Color: Purple
• Uses: Beds, Borders, Cut Flower, Flowering Tree, Hedge, Naturalizing, Roadside, Screening, Cottage Garden
• Type: Shrubs