Syringa v. Souvenir d'Alice Harding produces dense panicles of marvellously fragrant, double white flowers in May and June and heart-shaped, fresh-green leaves. This elegant white lilac is perfect for a sunny mixed or shrub border. Growing a late-summer flowering clematis through the branches is a good way of enhancing the shrub after it has flowered.
In mid-summer remove the faded flower heads carefully using secateurs to avoid damaging the young shoots. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant in early spring.
This shrub is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
- Height after 10 years 150-200cm
- Full sun
- Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil
- Average rate of Growth
- Flowers May and June
- Fully hardy