Syringa pubescens Syringa pubescens Syringa pubescens is a species of flowering plant in the lilac genus of the family Oleaceae, native to Korea and China (Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Jilin, Liaoning, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan). Growing to tall and broad, it is a substantial deciduous shrub with green leaves felted white beneath, and panicles of heavily scented, white-throated lilac flowers in early summer. The specific epithet "pubescens" means "downy", referring to the texture of the leaves. Three subspecies (formerly listed as separate species) are recognised: The cultivar "S. pubescens" subsp. "microphylla" 'Superba' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of
Philadelphus × purpureomaculatus Award of Garden Merit. Philadelphus × purpureomaculatus Philadelphus" × "purpureomaculatus is a flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, of garden origin. It is a hybrid between "P." × "lemoinei" and "P. mexicanus" 'Rose Syringa'. Growing to tall by broad, it is a deciduous shrub with broadly oval leaves up to long, and single, cup-shaped flowers in summer (June in the Northern Hemisphere). The flowers, which are strongly fragrant, are pure white with prominent purple markings near the centre; hence the Latin specific epithet "purpureomaculatus", literally "purple spotted". Valued in the garden as a summer-flowering shrub, the cultivar 'Sybille' has gained