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Key characteristics

Family: Oleaceae
Height: 10 to 15 ft
Width: 8 to 12 ft
Flower color: Pure white, double, very fragrant flower clusters
Foliage color: Deciduous medium green leaves
Bloom time: Mid to late 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

Shrubs

Syringa vulgaris 'Madame Lemoine'

Madame Lemoine Lilac

Syringa vulgaris 'Madame Lemoine' is a classic French lilac that flowers in mid to late spring with abundant panicles of fragrant, double white blossoms opening from creamy buds. The rounded clusters of blossoms often persist three to four weeks, filling the air with sweet perfume as heart-shaped green leaves develop and frame the blooms during the season.

Named in honor of the wife of famed French hybridizer Victor Lemoine, this cultivar has been grown for well over a century and is widely regarded as one of the best white lilacs for spring bloom.

Light

Full sun

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Mid to late spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Foundation Plantings
Fragrant Gardens
Pollinator Gardens

Companion plants

Yarrow · Oregon grape · Coreopsis · Blanket flower · Phlox · Bulgarian honey garlic

Design tip

Treat ‘Madame Lemoine’ as a bright punctuation point within a predominantly green shrub planting. Its abundant double-white flowers create a luminous spring display, while the surrounding foliage provides a calm backdrop that emphasizes both the rounded flower clusters and their creamy opening buds.