Season

Features

Spring

Bare branches become adorned with clusters of lilac-pink flowers, filling the air with a delightful fragrance.​

Summer

Dark green foliage remains attractive, maintaining the shrub's neat appearance.​

Autumn

Leaves may take on subtle reddish-bronze hues, adding seasonal colour.​

Winter

Deciduous nature provides structural interest with its tidy framework.

Feature

Benefit

Award-Winning Performance

Recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its reliable flowering, compact habit, and disease resistance.

Extended Flowering Season

Enjoys a long bloom period in spring with the bonus of a second, lighter flush in late summer with regular deadheading.

Ideal for Small Spaces

With a neat, rounded form and modest size, it’s perfect for city gardens, patios, and balconies.

Highly attractive to bees and butterflies, making it a great choice for pollinator-friendly planting schemes.

Beautiful Fragrance

Its richly scented blooms add an extra sensory layer to the garden, ideal near seating areas or walkways.

Step

Instructions

Planting Time

Best planted in late autumn or early spring when the soil is moist and workable.

Spacing

Allow 1 to 1.5 metres between each shrub to ensure ample room for growth and airflow.

Sunlight Position

Thrives in full sun; tolerates light shade but flowering may be reduced.​

Watering

Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system; drought-tolerant once established.

Soil Type

Prefers moist but well-drained, fertile soils; adaptable to chalk, clay, loam, or sand with pH ranging from neutral to alkaline.

Fertilising

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in early spring to promote healthy growth and abundant flowering.

Mulching

Mulch annually with well-rotted compost or organic matter to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

Issue

Solution

Pests

Generally pest-free, though you may occasionally see aphids on new growth. These are usually minor and rarely require treatment.

Diseases

Highly resistant to common lilac issues such as powdery mildew and leaf blight, especially when planted in full sun with good air circulation.

Pruning

Minimal pruning is needed. Simply deadhead spent flowers after blooming and lightly shape if required. Remove any dead or damaged wood in late winter or early spring

Wildlife

Benefits

Pollinators

The fragrant blooms attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, supporting local biodiversity.

Birds

Dense branching provides shelter for small birds and beneficial insects, especially when planted in groups or near hedging.

Habitat

Its low, bushy growth offers structure and cover at lower levels of the garden, enhancing habitat diversity in smaller spaces.