Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Syringa vulgaris 'City of Gresham'
City of Gresham Lilac
- Family
- Oleaceae
- Height
- 10 to 15 ft
- Width
- 8 to 12 ft
- Flower color
- Deep violet purple
- Foliage color
- Deciduous medium green leaves
- Bloom time
- Mid spring
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low to moderate; prune immediately after flowering to shape and remove spent clusters
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 7
- Wildlife
- Fragrant blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
About this plant
Syringa vulgaris 'City of Gresham' is a common lilac selection that blooms in mid to late spring with fragrant, single florets in deep purple to violet tones. Flowers open in full, upright panicles and perfume the air during warm spring afternoons and evenings. Fresh green, heart-shaped leaves follow quickly after bloom and keep the shrub looking full through summer.
'City of Gresham' is credited to the lilac hybridizing work associated with Hulda Klager in the Pacific Northwest, and it has long been linked with Gresham, Oregon, where it was later adopted as the city's official flower. It is grown for reliable spring bloom, classic fragrance, and richly colored panicles in borders and neighborhood plantings.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Foundation Plantings · Fragrant Gardens · Pollinator Gardens
Companion plants
Peonies · Alpine mint bush · Wallflower · Pampas grass · Stonecrop · Manzanita
Design tip
Echo the deep violet-purple flowers of ‘City of Gresham’ with smaller touches of the same color elsewhere in the spring garden. Repeating the hue at different heights creates a visual connection across the planting while allowing the lilac’s large flower panicles to remain the dominant feature.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens.
