Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Syringa x chinensis 'Lilac Sunday'
Chinese Lilac Sunday Lilac
- Family
- Oleaceae
- Height
- 8 to 12 ft
- Width
- 6 to 10 ft
- Flower color
- Lavender to pale pink fragrant flower panicles
- Foliage color
- Deciduous medium green leaves
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; prune lightly to shape after flowering
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 7
- Wildlife
- Fragrant blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
About this plant
Syringa x chinensis 'Lilac Sunday' is a deciduous lilac that flowers in spring, typically mid to late spring, with abundant, fragrant panicles of pale lavender-pink blooms. Flowers are produced not only at the branch tips but also from lateral buds along the stems, so the slender shoots can arch under the weight of bloom. Fresh green leaves and a fine-textured, willowy framework keep the plant looking light after flowering.
'Lilac Sunday' was selected at the Arnold Arboretum, associated with the Arboretum's annual Lilac Sunday celebration, and credited to Arboretum propagator Jack Alexander. It is grown for its dependable spring flowering, arching form, and good foliar health, fitting borders, hedges, and prominent planting spots near paths and patios.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Specimen Plants · Fragrant Gardens · Pollinator Gardens
Companion plants
Phlox · Smoke bush · Red valerian · Blue oat grass · Stonecrop · Daisy bush
Design tip
Show off ‘Lilac Sunday’s’ unusual flowering habit where its branches can be viewed from the side. Blossoms develop along the stems as well as at their tips, creating long sweeps of color that emphasize its graceful, arching form in the spring.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens.
