french lilac
french lilac Lexical Profile
• noun
Any of numerous cultivars of the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris), originally bred in France and celebrated for their dense, strongly fragrant, and frequently double-petaled flower clusters.
"The gardener planted a striking French lilac near the patio so they could enjoy its sweet fragrance every spring."
A herbaceous perennial plant (Galega officinalis) in the legume family, native to the Middle East and Europe, historically noted for its medicinal properties and as the original source of the anti-diabetic drug metformin.
"Historically, herbalists used extracts from the French lilac to treat symptoms that are now recognized as early signs of diabetes."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term typically refers to highly fragrant, often double-flowered cultivars of the common lilac shrub, but it is also used by botanists as an alternate name for goat's rue (Galega officinalis), a medicinal legume.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The phrase derives from the extensive breeding of common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) cultivars by French nurseryman Victor Lemoine in the late 19th century, making France famous for its highly fragrant, double-petaled lilacs.