Showy Mountain Ash vs Common Purple Lilac - TreeTime.ca

Showy Mountain Ash vs Common Purple Lilac

Sorbus decora

Syringa vulgaris

Showy Mountain Ash
Common Purple Lilac

Showy Mountain Ash is a hardy accent tree. It features pretty clusters of white flowers in spring followed by bright scarlet berries lasting into winter.

Great for small landscapes, Showy Mountain Ash is adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and it is suitable for average home landscape conditions.

Common Purple Lilac is a popular lilac. This large shrub provides excellent privacy or wind protection in an attractive package.

Lilac flowers are pleasantly fragrant and add a beautiful lavender colour to your property. Common Purple Lilac is cold hardy, easy to grow, and can tolerate most soil types.

Some people alternate villosa and common purple lilacs to create the impression that the hedge is in flower for almost a full month with the common purple flowering about 2 weeks sooner than the Villosa Lilac.

Showy Mountain Ash Quick Facts

Common Purple Lilac Quick Facts

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Lowest Price: $2.49 - SAVE UP TO 64%
Zone: 2a
Zone: 2a
Height: 12 m (40 ft)
Height: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 2.7 m (9 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: any
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Berries: redberries in bunches
Flowers: white, showy clusters
Flowers: dark purple, extremely fragrant
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium


In row spacing: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)


Other Names: dogberry
Other Names: common lilac, french hybrid lilac, lilac