Common Lilac
Syringa vulgaris · Oleaceae (Olive family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Ovate to cordate (heart-shaped at the base), terminating in an acute or acuminate tip
Margin
Entire (smooth edges without teeth or lobes)
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent central midrib and ascending secondary veins branching outwards, showing a slightly reticulated network.
Key Features
Opposite leaf arrangement, distinctly cordate or ovate leaf base, entire leaf margins, smooth green surface, and typical multi-stemmed shrub growth habit with fragrant spring blooms.
Description
Syringa vulgaris is a large deciduous shrub or small multi-stemmed tree renowned for its heavily fragrant, showy flower clusters in shades of purple, lavender, pink, or white that bloom in mid-spring. The foliage consists of lush, oppositionally arranged green leaves that provide a dense, leafy screen throughout the spring and summer before dropping in autumn without significant color change.
Habitat
Thrives in well-drained, humus-rich, neutral to slightly alkaline soils in full sun. Commonly cultivated in gardens, parks, and old homesteads, and can occasionally escape cultivation into hedgerows and disturbed areas.
Native Range
Native to the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. Widely cultivated and naturalized across temperate regions of North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.
Notes
Jessica Simpsons