Syringa vulgaris, or the common lilac, is not native to Britain, but was introduced as an ornamental garden plant from the Balkans in the 16th Century and has become naturalised. It is grown either as a large shrub or small multitrunk tree. It is characterised by the large showy and often highly scented flower heads that appear in late spring/early summer. These vary from purple to white, and are edible, used in syrups, sweets and cake decorations. Each individual flower has four petals.
Traditionally, purple lilac represents first love while white lilacs are for youthful innocence. According to some Greek traditions, the god of nature, Pan, created the first panpipes from the stem of the lilac, after the nymph Syringa turned into a lilac to avoid his attentions.
Lilac is the official flower of the US state of New Hampshire.
In modern culture, a sprig of lilac is often worn on May 25th by Terry Pratchett fans, as in the plot of the series they are worn by the survivors of the The People’s Revolution of the Glorious Twenty-Fifth of May (Truth, Justice, Freedom, Reasonably Priced Love, and a Hard-Boiled Egg). Some devotees prefer a lilac towel, as Douglas Adams is also commemorated on this date. As a consequence, lilac has also been adopted as a symbol of support for Alzheimer’s research.
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