Syringa chinensis Saugeana - Lilac

The Syringa x chinensis Saugeana, also known as Rouen Lilac or is a recent cultivar that combines qualities. With a flexible and naturally bushy habit, the bush offers a magnificent intensely fragrant flowering in spring, in long very beautifully coloured in pink violet panicles. Other flowers may appear more sporadically throughout the summer if the soil remains fresh. Very hardy and easy to grow even in calcareous soil. Drought-tolerant, the Saugeana lilac is an excellent plant for free hedges or standalone shrubs in all regions. This variety can also be grown in pots to perfume the terrace. A novelty to try out!

The Lilac x chinensis 'Saugeana' (synonyms Syringa dubia, S.rothomagensis, S. varina) is a horticultural achievement resulting from the hybridization of Syringa vulgaris, the common lilac, and S. protolaciniata, the Chinese lilac. All these plants belong to the Oleaceae family. The Syringa chinensis was discovered by M. Varin in 1777, which explains its common name of Varin Lilac. This bush is perfectly resistant to frost and shows a preference for clay-limestone soils.

Its silhouette is a bush both erect and rounded, compact and well ramified, almost as wide as it is high, supported by flexible and spread branches. Mature, it will reach about 3 m (9 ft 10 in) in height for a spread of 2.75 m. Its growth is quite slow, encouraged by a rich and fresh soil. This variety blooms abundantly from the end of April to the end of May depending on the region, always before the common lilacs. Its inflorescences are elongated pyramidal thyrses, a bit loose and pendulous, very fragrant, 15 to 25 cm (5.9 to 9.8 in) long, composed of small single flowers, of a rather bright pink-violet colour, pink-purple in buds. These inflorescences are grouped in bouquets at the end of last year's shoots, then again in summer or early autumn, when the current year's shoots may produce some inflorescences. This flowering attracts many butterflies and pollinating insects. Its dark green, deciduous foliage, composed of 6 to 8 cm (2.4 to 3.1 in) long leaves,  takes on a beautiful yellow colour in autumn before falling.

Whether it is the perfume, childhood memories or even symbol of a significant event, everyone has a good reason to love lilacs, as endearing as they are devoid of pretension. The 'Saugeana' Lilac is no exception: hardy, easy to grow in ordinary soil even in cold or dry regions, vigorous and not demanding, it embodies the charm and wonderful simplicity of old gardens. This bush constitutes a major element for the creation of a fragrant garden, its flowering accompanying that of laburnums, roses and false jasmine. It can be planted on the edge of a grove, in a group, isolated or in a free hedge mixed with other trees (flowering apple trees, Japanese cherry trees, Chinese almond tree, Japanese quinces, Deutzias...). Its very fragrant clusters are perfect in spring bouquets, in the company of garden irises, peonies, bellflowers and florist's buttercups.