Syringa vulgaris 'Krasavitsa Moskvy'
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LILAC
syn. S. 'Pride of Moscow', S. 'Beauty of Moscow'
Family: Oleaceae
Pronounced: si-RING-ah vul-GAH-ris
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Deciduous shrubs.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: A1-A3; 1-11, 14. Blooms sporadically in zones 12-16, 18-22 when winters are too mild.
USDA zones: 4-8.
Heat zones: 8-1.
Mature size:
Height: 9-12 feet (2.5-3.6 m).
Width: 9-12 feet (2.5-3.6 m).
Flowering period:
Late spring to early summer.
Flowering attributes:
Fragrant, six to nine-inch long panicles of white, double flowers open from pink buds.
Leaf attributes:
Large, green, heart-shaped to ovate leaves.
Growth habit:
Deciduous, upright shrub or small tree.
Light:
Full sun.
Soil:
Fertile, humus rich soil on the neutral to alkaline side.
Feeding:
Side dress with compost in fall, and add lime to neutralize our acidic NW soils.
Propagation Methods:
Greenwood cuttings in summer. | Layer in summer.
Pruning Methods:
Lilacs can take a lot of pruning. Take dead wood out first; then remove oldest and tallest canes. This will keep your shrub shorter. Prune after flowers fade. If you remove suckers, you will only get more suckers.
Pests and Diseases:
Bacterial or lilac blight, powdery mildew, lilac leaf miner or lilac borer may be a problem.
Rainy Side Notes
I wasn't going to grow lilacs, but every year around May day people bring bouquets to work, or restaurants; almost everywhere I go their intoxicating fragrance fills the air. There is a simple reason lilacs are a long time popular plant. It is a great cut flower that comes in a variety of colors. The blossoms mark that spring is well underway. Jealousy made me decide to grow lilacs on the edge of my cutting garden, so I too can cut these beautiful flowers once a year. The shrubs then act as a quiet backdrop for the rest of the season.
My first choice for the garden is this stunning double white flower, opening from pink buds, with a fragrance that makes expensive perfume pale in comparison. In addition, the more the flowers age the more fragrant they become. It’s easy to see why Syringa ‘Krasavitsa Moskvy' is considered one of the top lilacs in cultivation. Favored as cut flowers, this cultivar is a favorite for a vase.
Bred in Russia in 1943, Leonid Kolesnikov crossed lilacs S. ‘I.V. Michturin’ and S. ‘Belle de Nancy’ and came up with a tribute to Moscow—S. ‘Krasavitsa Moskvy' which literally means beauty of Moscow.
With our acidic soils, it is important to place lime around the base of these shrubs and grow them in full sun. Otherwise, flowers may be elusive on your lilac bush.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
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