Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Hyacinth-Flowered Lilac

Group/Class:  Early Flowering Lilac

Description:

An exceptional tall accent shrub featuring upright panicles of deliciously fragrant bluish-purple flowers in early spring on an upright growing shrub, memorable in bloom; needs full sun and well-drained soil, limited suckering, good disease resistance

Ornamental Features

Pocahontas Lilac features showy panicles of fragrant purple flowers rising above the foliage in early spring, which emerge from distinctive burgundy flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has bluish-green deciduous foliage. The heart-shaped leaves turn an outstanding deep purple in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Pocahontas Lilac is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Pocahontas Lilac is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Pocahontas Lilac will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 9 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.