Syringa vulgaris (French Lilac)

Syringa vulgaris, commonly known as French lilac, produces excellent, long-lasting cut flowers. Its fragrant blooms appear in abundance, often covering the entire shrub from late spring to early summer. The flower colors can vary, ranging from rose, magenta, and pinkish-purple to lavender and deep purple. The ideal time to prune French lilacs is immediately after they finish blooming in late spring or early summer. Pruning too late in the season can negatively impact the following year’s blooms. Lilacs set their flower buds shortly after flowering, so pruning during or after this critical period may remove the developing buds—resulting in fewer or no flowers the following spring. French lilacs are hardy and very easy to grow, with a high resistance to pests and diseases.
Because winters in Zambia are not cold enough, it is necessary to apply water stress during the winter months to force French lilacs into dormancy. To do this, water the plant sparingly from 1 May to 31 July. Resume normal watering on 1 August—this will help trigger your lilac bush to bloom in spring.