Common Name: Hungarian Lilac

General Information

Syringa josikaea is an erect, deciduous shrub that can grow up to 4 metres tall[].
The plant is widely cultivated as an ornamental, especially in eastern Europe, and can be grown as a hedge.
Syringa josikaea is an endemic plant of the Carpathian mountains with a disjunctive and fragmented distribution area. There are 17 sites in the Ukraine and 17 sites in Romania. The Ukrainian sites are small and the populations have a declining trend. There are no more than 1,000 individuals in Ukraine. The main threats are changes to the groundwater regime. There is no information on the population size or trend and potential threats available for Romania. The plant is classified as 'Data Deficient' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013), but very probably belongs into a threatened category as it is listed as Endangered in the Carpathian List of Endangered Species[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Eastern Europe - Romania, Ukraine.

Habitat

Found in ecotones between forests and bog plant communities near streams or torrents in fertile peaty soil - in the low beech forest belt at elevations from 300 - 650 metres, also in light places in margins of ash and ash-alder forest communities[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Data Deficient
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any fertile well-drained neutral to alkaline soil, preferring a position in full sunshine[, ]. Thrives in chalky soils[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].
Often grown as an ornamental, the plant is used in breeding programmes, especially for the development of a number of late flowering hybrids[]

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

A good hedging plant, it is very tolerant of trimming[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a north facing cold frame. Pre-treating the seed with 4 weeks warm then 3 weeks cold stratification improves germination. It is probable that sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame would be a more reliable method[]. Prick the seedlings out into individual pots once they are large enough to handle. Plant them out in the summer if sufficient growth has been made, otherwise grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter and plant out in late spring of the following year.
Cuttings of young shoots, 7cm with a heel, early summer in a frame[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame[].
Layering in spring before new growth begins. Takes 12 months[].
Division of suckers in late winter. They can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.