Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm Mountain time
Common Purple Lilac vs Western Snowberry
Syringa vulgaris
Symphoricarpos occidentalis
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
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.
Like the Common Snowberry, the Western Snowberry is a small shrub with pink flowers useful for feeding livestock and preventing erosion. Unlike the common species, however, the Western Snowberry is much more suited to wet conditions, capable of persevering through poor soil drainage and occasional flooding.
After the Snowberry's flowers have bloomed, it produces berries which often last on the plant through winter. These berries are toxic to humans, but livestock and local wildlife love them! Those hoping to attract wildlife to their property can plant Snowberry and expect to see animals foraging on it much later in the year than other plants.
Common Purple Lilac Quick Facts
Western Snowberry Quick Facts
In row spacing: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Toxicity: berries are toxic to humans