I don't know if I'm posting this to the right forum, but here goes. Last year we were driving around and I saw a very dark purple, almost black, lilac growing in someones yard. I should have stopped and gone in and asked what the name was but I didn't. It was also very fragrant. Does anyone know the name of a lilac that's very dark, almost black? Thanks. Marg
it may have been a butterfly bush...kind of similar growth pattern and the blooms are similar also. b. bush comes in a variety with black flowers (really a very, very dark purple).
I have seen the black buddleia but that was not it. It was definitely a lilac. Everyone with me wondered what kind of lilac could be that dark. Do you think it may have been the soil conditions that made it look that dark? Marg
i've never heard of a black lilac and don't know if soil conditions would affect the flower color (as can happen with some hydrangea). there must be some other type of plant similiar to lilac, if you're sure it wasn't a buddlea. i have no idea what it would be though. hopefully someone else will!
Might even have been a rare one, possibly even a unique seedling, that never got named, propagated and circulated. None that I know of would be described as nearly black. It may have looked darker than it was due to dull lighting. If so much darker than usual and not one already named and distributed might even be of commercial interest - deep purple lilacs strike a nerve with the public and are repeatedly asked for at outlets here. Along with blue hydrangeas, red rhododendrons etc. etc.
Thanks guys. The color was not only unique, so dark purple it appeared to be almost black, but the flowers were huge. I have noticed that someone on another forum is looking for the same plant! I'm going to keep an eye on that post to see if she gets a name. Marg
can you go take a pic of the plant you saw last year??? maybe even knock on the door and talk to the owners of the property as they might be able to tell you what it is. lilac flowers are pretty standard in size (from what i know), so, the fact that you say this one had larger flowers leads me to believe it's something other than a lilac.
