Common Lilac Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose'

Names

• Family

  Oleaceae

• Synonyms

  Primrose Lilac, Yellow Lilac

• Common names

  Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose'.

Toxicity

• To humans

  Common lilac, including the variety known as 'Primrose', is not considered highly toxic to humans. However, ingestion of large quantities of leaves, stems, flowers, or seeds could potentially cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is generally advisable to avoid eating any parts of ornamental plants unless they are known to be edible.

• To pets

  Common lilac is considered to be of low toxicity to domestic pets such as dogs and cats. If a pet were to ingest a significant quantity of the plant, it might experience mild gastrointestinal upset, with symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea. Generally, the risk of serious poisoning from common lilac is quite low, but it's still best to prevent pets from eating ornamental plants as a precaution.

Characteristics

• Life cycle

  Perennials

• Foliage type

  Deciduous

• Color of leaves

  Green

• Flower color

  Yellow

• Height

  8-15 feet (2.4-4.6 meters)

• Spread

  6-12 feet (1.8-3.7 meters)

• Plant type

  Shrub

• Hardiness zones

  3-7

• Native area

  Balkans

General Benefits

• Aesthetic Appeal: The Primrose lilac offers beautiful yellow-cream flowers that add a unique and attractive look to any garden landscape.
• Fragrance: This variety emits a sweet and heady scent that can perfume an entire garden area, especially noticeable in the springtime.
• Pollinator-Friendly: The blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects, supporting biodiversity.
• Seasonal Interest: With a typical flowering time in late spring, the Primrose lilac provides a splash of color when many other plants have not yet bloomed.
• Durability: Hardy in a wide range of climates, this plant can thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7, making it suitable for many gardens.
• Ease of Care: Once established, the Primrose lilac is relatively low maintenance, requiring minimal care beyond occasional pruning and watering during dry spells.
• Cultural Significance: Lilacs have a long history of symbolism and are often associated with love and the renewal of spring, enhancing their emotional benefit to gardeners and onlookers.

Medical Properties

• This plant is not used for medical purposes.

Air-purifying Qualities

This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.

Other Uses

• Lilacs like Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose' can be infused into honey for a floral-flavored spread; the flowers are steeped in honey for several weeks to infuse the flavor.
• The wood of lilac is hard and durable, making it suitable for items such as knife handles or musical instruments, where a strong, dense wood is desirable.
• Paper made from lilac wood pulp is said to hold a higher quality; it's strong and textured, suited for premium stationery or art projects.
• Lilac flowers can also be used to make a natural dye for fabrics, yielding various shades of green or blue depending on the mordant used.
• The flowers can be used in potpourri to add a light, pleasant fragrance to rooms, drawers, or closets.
• An extract from the flowers can be used in perfumery for its intense spring-like fragrance notes.
• The blooms are sometimes candied and used as decorative and edible elements on cakes and desserts.
• The essential oil derived from lilac blooms is occasionally used in aromatherapy for relaxation and stress relief purposes.
• As a traditional symbol of love and romance, lilac flowers are often included as part of wedding bouquets and decorations.
• Lilac bushes can be utilized in agroforestry systems to support biodiversity as they attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Feng Shui

The Syringa vulgaris, also known as the common lilac 'Primrose', is not used in Feng Shui practice.

Zodiac Sign Compitability

The common lilac 'Primrose' is not used in astrology practice.

Plant Symbolism

• Love - Lilac, specifically the Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose', is often associated with love, particularly young love or the emotions of a first love. The sweet scent and delicate blossoms evoke the innocence and excitement of early romantic feelings.
• Renewal - With its vigorous spring blooming, the lilac is seen as a symbol of renewal and the rebirth that comes with the season, representing new beginnings or fresh starts.
• Nostalgia - The scent of lilac is known to trigger memories and is often associated with the nostalgia of past experiences or emotions, recalling the gentleness of youth or bygone days.
• Spirituality - Lilac's strong fragrance and presence in gardens have historically given it a spiritual significance, where it is used to suggest the presence of something transcendent or ethereal.
• Beauty - The aesthetic appeal of its clusters of colorful flowers make lilac a symbol of natural beauty, celebrated for its visual impact and the enhancement it brings to gardens and landscapes.
• Confidence - The Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose' in particular, with its unique yellowish flowers, stands out among the more common lilac colors, representing confidence and standing firm in one's unique qualities.