Syringa × laciniata: Cut-Leaf Lilac with Fine-Textured Foliage and Pale Lilac Blooms

Cut-Leaf Lilac (Syringa × laciniata), syn. S. × persica 'Laciniata', is a graceful hybrid with fragrant pale lilac flower clusters up to 4 inches long in late spring. Its airy, finely textured foliage sets it apart. Forms a spreading shrub 6–8 feet tall and wide.

Growing Conditions

Reasonably fertile, well-drained soil in full sun; prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Deadhead promptly. Prune lightly in late winter or early spring. Good air circulation. Fire retardant. Requires chilling dormancy. Propagate by 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: 6–10 ft.
• Spread: 6–10 ft.
• Growth Habit: Spreading, Moderate
• Light: Full Sun
• Moisture: Medium
• Maintenance: Low
• Characteristics: Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Fragrant Flowers, Showy Flowers, Showy Foliage
• Bloom Time: Spring
• Flower Color: Pink, Purple
• Uses: Beds, Borders, Cut Flower, Specimen, Cottage Garden
• Type: Shrubs