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Key characteristics

Family: Oleaceae
Height: 8 to 12 ft
Width: 6 to 10 ft
Flower color: Soft lavender-pink, fragrant flower clusters
Foliage color: Medium green, heart-shaped leaves
Bloom time: Early to 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

Shrubs

Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Anabel'

Anabel Lilac

Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Anabel' is an early-flowering lilac that opens in early to mid-spring with full panicles of fragrant, double pink florets. Buds deepen to rosy pink, then soften as the clusters expand, and the blossoms hold well for cutting. Fresh green, heart-shaped leaves emerge as the flowers peak and keep the shrub looking neat after bloom.

'Anabel' originated as a deliberate hybrid between early lilac and common lilac and introduced in the 1950's.

Light

Full sun

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Early to mid spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Foundation Plantings
Fragrant Gardens
Pollinator Gardens

Companion plants

Poppies · Milkweed · Bee balm · Feather reed grass · Rock cress · Alpine mint bush

Design tip

Extend the lilac season by combining ‘Anabel’ with later-blooming lilacs elsewhere in the garden. Its early lavender-pink flowers begin the display before most common lilacs, creating a natural progression of bloom rather than concentrating the entire lilac show into one period.