Showy Mountain Ash vs Common Purple Lilac - TreeTime.ca

Showy Mountain Ash vs Common Purple Lilac

Sorbus decora

Syringa vulgaris

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(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

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

Lowest Price: $3.49 - SAVE UP TO 50%
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)
Light: any
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium


Fall colour: reddish-orange
Flowers: white, showy clusters
Flowers: dark purple, extremely fragrant
Berries: redberries in bunches
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


In row spacing: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL
Other Names: dogberry
Other Names: common lilac, french hybrid lilac, lilac