Beauty of Moscow Lilac vs Sweet Gale - TreeTime.ca

Beauty of Moscow Lilac vs Sweet Gale

Myrica gale

Syringa vulgaris Beauty of Moscow (Syringa vulgaris Krasavitsa Moskvy)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Sweet Gale
Beauty of Moscow Lilac

Sweet Gale is a native, nitrogen-fixing shrub known for its aromatic foliage. Tiny glands on the leaves release a balmy, bay leaf-like scent with floral and citrus notes. In spring, the yellowish male catkins provide one of the earliest sources of pollen for bees and other insects. While later in the season, the female catkins produce seeds that are eaten by waterfowl. Sweet Gale is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plants.

Sweet Gale thrives in wet, acidic soils and is commonly found along wetlands and lakeshores. It can help stabilize shorelines, while its dense growth provides valuable cover for wildlife. It is well-suited for naturalization, wetland restoration, and erosion control projects.

Beauty of Moscow Lilac is a flowering shrub known for its highly fragrant, double flowers. The buds start as a pale pink and give way white blooms that have double the number of petals compared to other Lilacs. While the flowers are mostly white they can often take on a subtle pink blush.

The striking blooms, abundant flowers, and long bloom time make the Beauty of Moscow Lilac one of the top Lilac cultivars. The flowers are known for attracting hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators to your landscape.

Sweet Gale Quick Facts

Beauty of Moscow Lilac Quick Facts

Zone: 1b
Zone: 3a
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Growth form: upright, thicket-forming
Spreading: suckering - medium, seeds - low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: dotted with yellow glands, sweet scented
Fall colour: yellow
Bark: reddish-purple, dotted with yellow glands
Flowers: white to pale pink
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: yes
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: bog myrtle, meadow-fern, sweet bayberry, sweetgale