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Key characteristics

Family: Oleaceae
Height: 10 to 15 ft
Width: 8 to 12 ft
Flower color: Reddish-purple to deep magenta, very fragrant flower clusters
Foliage color: Deciduous medium green leaves
Bloom time: Mid spring
Light: Full sun
Water: Low to 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

Shrubs

Syringa vulgaris 'Arch McKean'

Arch McKean Lilac

Syringa vulgaris 'Arch McKean' is a lilac selection that flowers in mid to late spring with fragrant, magenta to deep purple panicles. The florets open from darker buds and form upright clusters that perfume the garden and attract early pollinators. Heart-shaped green leaves provide a lilac backdrop through summer.

The cultivar was named for lilac advocate Arch McKean of Grand Beach, Michigan. Introduced into commerce in the late 1980's, it is valued for saturated flower color, strong fragrance, and limited suckering, making it easier to keep as a defined shrub in borders and near patios.

Light

Full sun

Water

Low to moderate

Bloom time

Mid spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Foundation Plantings
Fragrant Gardens
Pollinator Gardens

Companion plants

Lupine · Firethorn · Red valerian · Blue oat grass · Rock rose · Snow-in-summer

Design tip

Feature ‘Arch McKean’ where its saturated magenta-purple flowers can provide a strong counterpoint to pale spring blooms elsewhere in the garden. Its limited suckering also helps preserve a more defined silhouette, making it especially effective as a substantial individual shrub within a mixed planting.