Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation': Bicolor Lilac with Purple Flowers Edged in White

Common Lilac 'Sensation' (Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation') bears unique slightly fragrant, single purple blossoms with distinct white margins 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
• 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, White
• Uses: Beds, Borders, Cut Flower, Flowering Tree, Hedge, Naturalizing, Roadside, Screening, Cottage Garden
• Type: Shrubs