Medicinal plant

Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

A fragrant edible flower, not a tincture herb.

Lilac has historical folk uses, but isn’t a core modern Western medicinal herb and doesn’t need to become a tincture simply because it’s edible. Best used as an edible flower garnish, infused sugar, or culinary syrup.

Lilac (Syringa vulgaris), historical botanical illustration

Growing and using it

Life cycle

Deciduous perennial shrub.

What to buy

A potted or bare-root common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) shrub.

Best way to start

Nursery shrub or rooted sucker.

Seed starting

Possible but slow and seedlings may vary; nursery stock is much more practical.