Lilac Michel Buchner

A late-flowering, double-flowered lilac for the larger garden, Syringa vulgaris Michel Buchner is a large, vigorous, deciduous shrub, sometimes a small tree, with an upright, bushy, rather spreading habit. The ovate leaves are mid-green, a pretty foil for the flowers. In May and June, purple buds open to large spires of fragrant, four-petalled, tubular, double flowers in shades of lilac-pink, pale pink, mauve and purple, with a small white eye. Give an organic mulch in spring to conserve moisture. Needs very little pruning, just careful deadheading, so as not to damage the young shoots underneath. Lilac Michel Buchner is good at the back of a sunny border.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Well-drained, fertile, humus-rich, alkaline to neutral soil
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: Late spring and early summer in particular
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 13-16 (4-5m) Spread: 10–13 (3-4m) in 20 years