Horticulture:
This species is cultivated primarily for its showy, nostalgically fragrant
flowers and is often found growing near old homesteads, spreading out in
clumps from root sprouts. The large size and the suckering habit of this
plant make it suitable only for the shrub border, for group plantings, and
for screening purposes. Some authors maintain that by pruning away faded
flowers, the vigor of the next year's blooms will be enhanced. Older plants
need to be revitalized by pruning after flowering. A vast range of cultivars
have originated from this species, including 'Avalanche,' with large, white
flowers, good fragrance, and an upright habit; 'Little Boy Blue," with
sky-blue flowers, good fragrance, and a compact, rounded shape; and 'Arch
McKean,' a reddish-purple flowered, non-suckering variety. 'Alba' is an
older cultivar with pale green leaves, white flowers and a slender, upright
habit. 'Aurea' is an attractive cultivar with young leaves emerging yellow,
turning yellowish-green.
The Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) is also a common ISU campus planting. It becomes a small round-crowned tree up to 30 feet in height. Showy white flowers are produced in early summer and the fragrance is similar to that of a privet, which some find less than pleasant. This is possibly the most trouble-free syringa, as it is resistant to mildew, scale and borer. This species is hardy throughout Iowa and is very picturesque in the winter landscape, with its stiff, rugged-looking outline.
