Lilac flowers; photo by Rachel on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share-alike).
Official State Bush of New York
The lilac bush (Syringa vulgaris) was designated the official state bush of New York state in 2006. New Hampshire also recognizes the lilac as a state symbol (lilac blossom is the state flower). All State Plants - State Flowers
Lilac Facts
The lilac is an ornamental shrub with showy, very aromatic blooms in early spring. Lilacs have a scent that is stronger than roses that carries quite a distance. There are over 1,000 varieties of lilacs in several colors including white and pink (the most popular colors are lilac and purple). A lilac bush can live for hundreds of years.
Originally from Europe and Asia, lilacs date back to the 1750's in America - they were planted in our first botanical gardens and both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew lilacs in their gardens.
