The Persian Lilac is a hybrid between the Afghan Lilac x the Cutleaf Lilac from central Asia and is almost completely sterile, not bearing dehiscent brown capsules. It has small, spearhead leaves about 1 to 3 inches long x 1/2 to 1 inch wide. The lilac-colored flower clusters are looser than those of the Common Lilac and are just as fragrant, and can also be used as cut flowers in a vase. Some are still sold at most larger nurseries in the Chicago area. Not nearly as frequently planted as the Common Lilac. I just find it here and there occasionally. It is a nice larger shrub usually about 8 to 10 feet high. The leaves often get mildew in late summer and fall; not having any autumn color like most other lilacs. (There is a good possibility that the Persian Lilac that is occasionally sold by conventional nurseries is really the Rouen Lilac (Syringa x rothomagensis) (also called the Chinese Lilac of Syringa x chinensis, though not from China) that is a hybrid of the Persian Lilac x the Common Lilac that occurred in Rouen, France in 1777. The Rouen Lilac gets 8 to 15 feet high and bears flower clusters to about 6 inches long. The true Persian Lilac only gets 4 to 8 feet high and bears flower clusters to 3 inches long, according to the textbooks.) Therefore, conventional nurseries may have it slightly mislabelled.

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I purchased mine under the common name "Cut-Leaf Lilac." I like variety in everything that I collect, so when I saw those leaves I had to have it. My photo shows the leaves pretty well.

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