Preston lilac vs Smoke bush

Preston lilac and Smoke bush are often considered for the same spot in the garden (flowers, screening, specimen). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Preston lilac

Syringa × prestoniae 2.5 m × 2 m after 10 years

A large, upright then rounded lilac that flowers a week or two after common lilac, in late May and June, with big conical panicles in pink, purplish…

Shrub

Full sun

Smoke bush

Cotinus coggygria 3 m × 3 m after 10 years

A large, spreading deciduous shrub known for the smoke-like, pinkish, fluffy plumes it carries in summer and for its yellow, orange and purple-red…

Shrub

Full sun

from about PLN 29

Key differences

Smoke bush grows larger: 3 m × 3 m after ten years, against 2.5 m × 2 m for Preston lilac (an estimate: sources differ).
Smoke bush tolerates drought better than Preston lilac.
Smoke bush also takes heavy clay, Preston lilac needs a loose, free-draining soil.

Which one to choose?

Preston lilac is the better choice if space is tight.

Smoke bush is the better choice if you cannot water regularly or the soil is heavy clay.

Watch out for

Preston lilac

It flowers poorly in shade and sulks in waterlogged soil. It resists powdery mildew well; scale insects and lilac borers are occasional. With age it gets leggy at the base, which you can correct by cutting a few old stems to the ground.

Smoke bush

Its most serious disease is verticillium wilt, which makes whole branches die suddenly, mostly on wet, heavy soil. Leaf spot and, in dry weather, powdery mildew also occur. Purple-leaved forms turn green in shade. The resinous sap can irritate sensitive skin, so wear gloves when pruning.

The data side by side

Feature	Preston lilac	Smoke bush
Group	Shrub	Shrub
Size after 10 years	2.5 m × 2 m (uncertain)	3 m × 3 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	2.4–3.5 m × 1.8–3 m	3–5 m × 3–4.5 m
Growth rate	Medium (uncertain)	Medium (uncertain)
Light	Full sun	Full sun
Soil	Average garden soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	May–June, pink, purple, white	May–July, yellow, pink
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	High
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	200 cm	250 cm
For children	no data	Mildly toxic
Typical price	no data	approx. PLN 30

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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Preston lilac vs Common lilac Smoke bush vs Common lilac