Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation' 250mm

Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation' is a highly popular and award-winning lilac cultivar known for its striking bicolour flowers. It produces large, pyramidal clusters of dark purple florets edged in white, which bloom in late spring, covering the shrub with a sweet fragrance and vibrant colour.

Key Features

Height & Spread: Grows 2.4 to 3 m (8 to 10 ft) tall and wide, forming an upright, deciduous shrub.

Flowers: Abundant fragrant flowers with rich purple centres and white margins that attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, enhancing garden wildlife.

Foliage: Heart-shaped, mid to dark green leaves that provide attractive summer colour.

Growth Conditions: Prefers full sun and well-drained soils including loam, clay, sand, and chalk with neutral to alkaline pH. It tolerates drought once established and deer browse.

Maintenance: Low maintenance with moderate water needs; prune after flowering to encourage next season's blooms.

Wildlife Attraction

Attracts pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and occasionally hummingbirds due to its abundant nectar-rich flowers.

The dense structure of the shrub offers shelter and nesting opportunities for birds, supporting garden biodiversity.

Garden Uses

Well suited for beds and borders, hedges, screens, and traditional or informal cottage-style gardens where its showy flowers and scent provide visual and sensory appeal.

This lilac delivers both remarkable spring beauty and benefits to pollinators, making it a sensational choice for gardens seeking elegant, wildlife-friendly shrubs.