Pollinator plant

Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

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Common names

42 names · 32 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Other languages (31)
Dutch
French
Arabic
  • ليلك شائع[3]
Armenian
  • Եղրևանի սովորական[3]
Belarusian
  • Бэз звычайны[3]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
Czech
  • šeřík obecný[3]
Danish
  • Almindelig syren[3]
Estonian
  • harilik sirel[3]
Finnish
  • pihasyreeni[3]
German
Hungarian
  • Közönséges orgona[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • ムラサキハシドイ[3]
  • ライラック[3]
  • リラ[3]
Korean
  • 라일락[3]
  • 서양수수꽃다리[3]
Laadan
Latvian
  • Parastais ceriņš[3]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastosios alyvos[3]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Lilak pospolity[3]
Romanian
Russian
  • Сирень обыкновенная[3]
Slovak
  • orgován obyčajný[3]
Slovenian
  • španski bezeg[3]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Бузок звичайний[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Syringa vulgaris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • lilac — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • common lilac — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Lilas commun — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Gemeiner Flieder — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Lila común — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Lilas français — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Lillà — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • sering — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
[2] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Syringa vulgaris ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Lilac (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 158382; taxon 542H2.
  • Flieder (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 158381; taxon 542H2.
[3] Syringa vulgaris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • lilac — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • common lilac — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Lilas commun — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Gemeiner Flieder — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Lila común — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Lilas français — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Lillà — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • sering — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • šeřík obecný — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • 歐丁香 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • 欧丁香 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • 洋丁香 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • syren — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Almindelig syren — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Сирень обыкновенная — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • syrin — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • harilik sirel — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Jorgovan — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • pihasyreeni — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Lilak pospolity — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Paprastosios alyvos — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • ムラサキハシドイ — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • ライラック — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • リラ — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • orgován obyčajný — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • lehina — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • 라일락 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Liliac — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Бэз звычайны — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • španski bezeg — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Бузок звичайний — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Եղրևանի սովորական — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Közönséges orgona — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • ليلك شائع — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Parastais ceriņš — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • leylak — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • 서양수수꽃다리 — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
  • Lilà — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 83072; Syringa vulgaris.
[4] Syringa vulgaris — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Common Lilac — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Syringa vulgaris.
  • English Lilac — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Syringa vulgaris.
  • French Lilac — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Syringa vulgaris.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Syringa vulgaris is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Oleaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
2.44–4.88 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
1.83–3.66 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Ascending; Conical; Erect; Irregular; Multi-stemmed; Pyramidal; Vase

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
N. Balkan Pen. to NC. Romania.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Unknown
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Shrub
Size
Medium
Dimensions
6.00 m high × 0.00 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-7
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Flowers
Functions
Hedge, Fragrant
Edibility
1 out of 5
Medicinal value
1 out of 5

Flowers can be eaten raw or folded into batter and baked to make fritters.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Syringa vulgaris — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1323197; ID 542H2; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1323197; ID 542H2; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Syringa vulgaris — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Syringa vulgaris — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1199984; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 481055, 481056, 481058, 481059

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.