Bloomipedia
Meyer lilac (Syringa meyeri)
Photo: dinomariobob via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flowering shrub

Meyer lilac

Syringa meyeri

Meyer lilac (Syringa meyeri) is a shrub in the Oleaceae family.

🌷 Flowering shrub

Meyer lilac is a popular flowering shrub. It's on our flower lists for 37 states.

0states where USDA records it
37Bloomipedia state lists include it
104U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Our state lists also include states where people grow it in gardens, so they can outnumber USDA's wild-plant records. Planted garden shrubs are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Syringa pubescens is a species of flowering plant in the lilac genus of the family Oleaceae, native to Korea and China.

  • It belongs to the Oleaceae family. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 17 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #133 among the 186 flowers on our Ohio list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 16 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #140 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 9 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #113 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (9 records)
Bloom time in the 37 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Ohio🌷 Gardenfew records (1)17
New York🌷 Gardenfew records (3)16
Colorado🌷 Gardenno flowering records9
Minnesota🌷 Gardenfew records (2)9
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records (1)9
Illinois🌷 Gardenno flowering records7
Michigan🌷 Gardenfew records (1)5
New Jersey🌷 Gardenfew records (1)5
Wisconsin🌷 Gardenno flowering records5
Iowa🌷 Gardenno flowering records3
Indiana🌷 Gardenno flowering records3
Nebraska🌷 Gardenno flowering records3
Missouri🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
Washington🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
Georgia🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Kansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Maryland🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
North Carolina🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Utah🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
West Virginia🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Arkansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
California🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Connecticut🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Delaware🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Idaho🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Kentucky🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Maine🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Montana🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
New Mexico🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Oregon🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Rhode Island🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
South Dakota🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Tennessee🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Virginia🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Vermont🌷 Gardenno flowering records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe
Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 27 of our 37 states.
See each state
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). OAC 1501:18-1-03
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). Minn. R. 6134.0300
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. IL E&T checklist 2025
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). R 299.1028
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NR 27.03
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). IAC 571-77.3
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). 163 NAC 4-004
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). MESA list
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). COMAR 08.03.08
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). 02 NCAC 48F .0301
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NH Ncr 312
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). CT E/T/SC list
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). DE rare plants 2024
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). 400 KAR 3:040
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. Maine rare plant list
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). OAR 603-073-0070
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). RI rare plants 2016
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). 2VAC5-320-10
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). Vermont E&T list
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead.
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead.
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead.
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants.

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.

Names, range and relatives

Other Syringa on Bloomipedia (3): Purple lilac, Japanese tree lilac, Hairy lilac.

More from the Oleaceae family (9 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Downy forestiera, White fringetree, Spiny menodora, Border forsythia, Sweet olive, Chinese fringetree.

Meyer lilac and Hairy lilac are covered by the same Wikipedia article. They are listed separately because iNaturalist treats them as different taxa (Syringa meyeri and Syringa pubescens).

More Ohio flowers

Sources