Syringa vulgaris Madame Lemoine - Lilac - Plant in 9 cm Pot

The Lilacs are perhaps the most iconic of late spring flowering shrubs. Originally ranging from southeast Europe to China and Japan, the species vulgaris has become one of the most intensively bred of all the Lilacs, with over 2000 different cultivars and more arising every year. No one can discuss Syringia vulgaris without mentioning Victor Lemoine and his son Emile who, at their nursery in Nancy, France, raised many of today's cultivars. Syringa vulgaris Mme Lemoine was one of these, introduced in 1939, it is a superb large hardy shrub with glossy green leaves and many dense panicles of richly fragrant yellow in bud, opening pure white double flowers, in May and June. A reliable cultivar of great merit that has been granted the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Lilacs prefer full sun but will flourish in partial shade. They are not fussy as to soil as long as it is reasonably well drained. They are excellent in chalky soil. Old flowering wood should be pruned out as soon as the flowers are finished and harder pruning can be undertaken at the same time if required. Lilacs take 2-3 years to reach full flowering potential. This plant can be planted as part of a mixed border or as a stand alone specimen in the garden or a container. If planting in a pot or other container. Use a good quality John Innes compost as this plant will be there a long time and peaty types of compost eventually degrade and become too packed and choke the roots. Ensure you feed regularly as a hungry plant is a poor performer. We recommend Osmoscote pro 8-12 month applied in the early spring. One application gives all the nutrients the plant requires for the whole year. John Innes is a soils based compost.