Plant Encyclopedia

Description:

An early-spring blooming lilac from the US National Arboretum with large panicles of intensely fragrant reddish-purple flowers; upright, multi-stemmed habit, limited suckering, ideal for screening; full sun and well-drained soil; resistant to mildew

Ornamental Features

Declaration Lilac is draped in stunning panicles of fragrant lilac purple flowers rising above the foliage in early spring, which emerge from distinctive dark red flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The heart-shaped leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color.

Landscape Attributes

Declaration 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. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading
• Insects

Declaration Lilac is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Declaration Lilac will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot 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.