Lilac - Sensation (Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation')
sih-RIN-gah vul-GAR-iss 'Sensation'

Deciduous Perennial Shrub in the Oleaceae Family
 

Syringa vulgaris, commonly known as the Common Lilac, is a beloved deciduous shrub species native to the Balkan Peninsula of southeastern Europe. This classic garden plant typically grows 12-15 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide, forming a multi-stemmed, vase-shaped shrub with a rounded, dense canopy of large, dark green leaves. In late spring, the Common Lilac produces abundant, showy flower panicles that can reach up to 8 inches long. These densely packed panicles are filled with small, fragrant florets in various shades of purple, lavender, pink, or white, releasing the plant's signature sweet, floral lilac scent. The Common Lilac prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained, moist soil, and it is hardy in USDA Zones 3-7, tolerating cold temperatures well. This shrub requires minimal pruning, just to remove old wood and maintain its shape. Commonly used as a flowering hedge, screen, or specimen plant in gardens, the Common Lilac is also excellent as a cut flower due to its long-lasting blooms and fragrance. In addition, it attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden, making it a cherished, heirloom shrub valued for its showy spring blooms, intoxicating scent, and reliable cold hardiness.

 

Plant Data

Mature Size 8 - 10 feet tall. 8 - 12 feet wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Widely Adaptable
Zones 3a - 7b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Formal Garden, Fragrant Flowers, Full Sun, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Hedges, Medium, Medium, Normal Soil, Perennial, Showy Flowers, Shrub, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil Bareroot Shrubs, Flowering Shrubs, Purple Flowering Shrubs
Bloom Period April to May
Flower Color Purple, Single, White Edged Petals
 

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Pricing and Availability History

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!