Syringa emodi aureovariegata - Himalayan lilac

Syringa emodi Aureovariegata is a variegated Himalayan Lilac. It forms a large, upright deciduous shrub reaching a height of 3 to 4 metres at maturity. Its spring flowering first produces pale lilac buds before opening into large white panicles. The Himalayan Lilac is not cultivated for its fragrance. Its lanceolate leaves are extensively variegated with yellow, to the point that the green colour almost disappears, only present as small central spots. It is a very bright plant, particularly in partial shade. It is hardy and undemanding and can be planted in any well-drained soil as a flowering hedge or in a flower bed.

Lilac or Syringa belongs to the olive family, like the olive tree, and includes about twenty species and nearly 2000 cultivars. Syringa emodi is a species native to the western Himalayas, especially in northern Pakistan. In the wild, it can reach heights of up to 5 metres and spread over 4 metres. It is found on steep terrain up to 3,000 to 4,000 metres above sea level. In Sanskrit, "emodi" means "snow," which this species encounters abundantly in its natural habitat. Syringa emodi Aureovariegata is a variegated cultivar, also known as Syringa emodi Elegantissima. Like other Lilacs, it forms a bushy shrub with dense foliage, with lanceolate, elliptical leaves measuring 9 to 15 cm long and 5 cm wide. They are medium green and in this cultivar, extensively variegated with yellow, to the point that the green colour only remains as small spots. With an upright habit, it reaches a height of 3 to 4 metres and a width of 3 metres. Flowering occurs from mid-May, starting with pale lilac buds that open into large white panicles. Once established, this hardy lilac is tolerant of various growing conditions, even if they are quite extreme (drought, strong winds), and can tolerate sandy to clayey soils, moist to normal, not too dry.

The Aureovariegata Lilac is a rare and original subject, with attractive and elegant foliage that is uncommon, vibrant, and bright. It can be planted in a mixed hedge with other species that flower in late winter, spring, and summer, such as Japanese Quinces, Serviceberries, Mock Oranges, Ornamental Crabapples and Butterfly Bushes. In a flower bed, it can be combined with roses, climbing plants like Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum), Ceanothus, Calycanthus. To enhance the colour of its foliage, plant it with a shrub with very dark foliage, such as the dark green of a conifer or the purple of a 'Black Beauty' Elderberry. Add perennials with blue flowers like Centauras or with colourful foliage like Heucheras. Accentuate with annuals like Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella).