Shrub upright, up to 6 m high. Leaves oval, subcordate or tapering at the base, acuminate, 5-10 cm long, 2-6 cm broad, subcoriaceous, bright green, glabrous; petiole 2 cm. Large panicles arising from lateral buds, without leaves at the base, terminal bud suppressed. Flowers often scented, lilac, white, azure, or red, sometimes double. Calyx 2 mm long, 4-toothed, farinose, glandular-ciliolate on margin. Corolla tube narrowly cylindric, c. 1 cm long, lobes 4 (-5), oval, more or less rounded, cucullate at the apex. Anthers included. Capsule smooth, lustrous, brown, 10-15 mm long, 5 mm in diameter, slightly compressed, opening into 2 parts. Seeds 2 (1 in each cell), c. 12 mm long and 5 mm broad, compressed, winged.

Fl. Per.: April-June Fruit:. September-October.

Type: “Habitat versus Persiam”.

Distribution: SE. Europe. Cultivated since ancient times, now distributed all over the termperate zones. In Pakistan it is grown in hill-stations.

About 800 cultivated varieties have been named. Lilac (European Lilac).