Syringa Virtual Violet - Lilac

Lilac or Syringa First Editions Virtual Violet 'Bailbridget' is a charming variety with a compact habit, unusual colours, and disease-free foliage. Its young purple leaves are decorative and its very dark stems remain interesting all year round. In spring, you will admire its fine clusters of double, purple to violet, fragrant flowers mixed with raspberry red buds. Its growth is more modest than that of classic varieties so it is better suited to small gardens. A hardy, deciduous shrub that is easy and generous.

Syringa 'Virtual Violet' is the result of a cross between the lilac 'Charles Joly' and two varieties from the United States National Arboretum. It is a shrub of the olive family. This recent variety forms an upright and dense shrub, reaching an average height of 2.20 m and a spread of 1.70 m. Its deciduous, triangular and heart-shaped leaves are smaller than those of classic varieties. They appear in spring, in a green shade washed with purple and violet. The abundant flowering takes place in May or sometimes as early as mid-April depending on the climate. The branches of this lilac are dark purple from spring to the end of summer. At the end of one-year-old branches, fairly thin flower clusters appear, not very long, but nicely erect. These clusters, called thyrses, reach a length of between 15 and 20 cm. Their overall pyramidal shape is tapered. The dark purple-red flower buds open into double flowers, with the corolla forming a long tube at the base. Their colour changes from dark purple to lighter violet and they have a very floral fragrance.

Virtual Violet is easy to grow in any well-drained soil, in almost all climates, an essential shrub in a romantic or traditional garden. To create a flowering hedge from spring to autumn, for example, combine it with a Japanese Quince 'Eximia', a Butterfly Bush 'Berries and Cream', an Indian Lilac 'Black Solitaire Purely Purple', and a European Spindle 'Red Cascade'. It can also be used as a solitary specimen, surrounded by a bed of small roses like 'Diamant Rose' and 'Robe Fleurie'.