Syringa 'Dark Purple' Tree

One of the best flowering small Lilacs, this relatively new variety called Syringa 'Dark Purple' blooms in May and can keep on flowering throughout the summer. The buds are dark purple and the flowers that emerge are darker in colour than other dwarf Lilacs and have an appealing scent.

Syringa 'Dark Purple' is low maintenance, only requiring occasional pruning if you wish to maintain its neat, bushy shape. Best planted in full sun or light shade, 'Dark Purple' will thrive in most alkaline to neutral pH soils and reach a size of 2x2 metres. The perfect choice for herbaceous borders and patios.

Please note due to the dwarf nature, the product sizes are similar but the 10L bush is more mature and fuller than the 5L.

AKA Lilac Dark Purple, Syringa Bloomerang Dark Purple

• Common name: Dwarf Purple Lilac
• Height and spread in 20 years: 2 x 2 metres
• Flowers: Pink-purple, fragrant in late spring to summer
• Foliage: Deciduous green leaves
• Soil: Will tolerate most soil types except acidic
• Position: Prefers a sunny location

Planting Advice for Syringa 'Dark Purple' Shrubs

Our pot grown Dark Purple Dwarf Lilac shrubs can be planted at any time of the year. Start by removing weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole. Dig a square hole as deep as your root mass and approximately 2x as wide. To help the tree establish more effectively, sprinkle root grow in the hole.

Remove the pot, gently tease the roots and place into the planting hole. Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently. Avoid banking the soil up around the collar of the shrub.

Aftercare Advice for Syringa 'Dark Purple' Shrubs

When planting small Lilacs in spring or summer, water well for several months. Increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. If planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. Irrigation kits make it easier.

Once planted, keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons.

Pruning Advice for Syringa 'Dark Purple' Shrubs

Unlike most Lilac trees, small Lilac shrubs need very little maintenance. A light prune in late summer is all that is needed to maintain its neat shape. Also prune any damaged or diseased branches.

Covid-19: In response to government advice and for the safety of everyone, we have taken the difficult decision to stop nursery operations until mid-April.

It will still be possible to place new orders through our website and your  trees will be tagged and reserved for you, but we will be unable to despatch  them until operations resume.

Delivery Costs

1 small tree (most trees under 1.5 metres in height) : £7.95 + vat

1 medium tree (most trees 1.5-2 metres in height) or 2-4 small trees: £9.95 + vat

2+ medium trees or 5+ small trees: £12.95 + vat

1-4 trees delivered by pallet (inc. mature Japanese Maples): £19.95 + vat

The above prices exclude the Scottish Highlands, where delivery starts from £24.95 + vat and is calculated in the checkout process.

Mature and pleached trees or orders too large for pallet: Cost is calculated in the checkout process and varies by postcode rather than quantity (starts from £48 + vat).

Northern Ireland and Non Mainland UK

Our courier charges are not viable for just one or two trees, but if you have a larger requirement then please do speak to us to see if we can find a solution.

Delivery Timescales

All trees are carefully packed by our experienced team and most are delivered within 10 days of placing the order. There's no need to be in to receive your order and you can request where it is left via the checkout.

There is a slightly longer timescale on pleached and mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) because we group orders together for specialist delivery - we will contact these customers to notify them of the delivery date.

Trees on pre-order are still growing and an estimate of when they will be ready is given on the basket page. Orders will be despatched when all trees are ready.

Gift trees and those required by a specific date can be accommodated with pleasure, although we accept no legal responsibility for late deliveries.

Our nursery is a busy despatch centre, so please make an appointment to collect or view trees.  For collections, despatch charges will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem / Pruned and shaped: Classic shaped tree with a single stem that has had pruning to help create a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted: A height noted next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Top grafted trees do not require complicated pruning and are ideal for small spaces.

Feathered: A feathered tree has branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem: A multi stem tree has two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that can give the appearance of a multi stemmed and very bushy tree.

Climber: A plant that is a natural climber and will be delivered usually running up a bamboo cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height:

Standard  either 6-10cm or 8-10cm girth, approximately 2.5-3.0m in height
Premium Standard  10-12cm girth, approximately 3.0-3.5m in height
Heavy Standard  12-14cm girth, approximately 3.5-4.5m in height
Extra Heavy Standard 14-16cm girth approximately 4.0-6m in height