Early Flowering Lilac, Hyacinth Lilac, American Hybrid Lilac, Flowering Shrubs, Fragrant Shrubs
Syringa x hyacinthiflora (Early Flowering Lilac), vigorous and remarkably resilient, are low-maintenance shrubs that bloom abundantly with minimal care. These must-have plants deserve a spot on every gardener’s list for their effortless growth and profuse flowering.
Syringa x hyacinthiflora, commonly known as early flowering lilac or hyacinth lilac, is a hybrid of two species of Lilac (Syringa oblata and Syringa vulgaris), both native to Eastern Europe and Asia.
Description: The hyacinth lilac is a deciduous shrub with a stunning display of flowers. It is a complex and beautiful hybrid that combines the best features of its parent plants.
Growth Habit: This plant typically exhibits an upright habit in youth, fattening with age. It provides an excellent backdrop for other plants in a landscape design.
Size: The hyacinth lilac is a medium-sized shrub that typically grows between 8 to 12 feet (2.4-3.6 meters) tall and wide, making it a substantial presence in the garden.
Flowers: The plant’s showy flowers are its most remarkable feature. They are incredibly fragrant and bloom in large clusters that can reach up to 8 inches (20 cm) in length. The flowers can be single or double and are available in a wide range of colors, including purple, violet, white, or pink.
Foliage: The plant’s leaves are heart-shaped and dark green, providing a lovely contrast to the bright flowers. The foliage often turns shades of red, purple, and gold in fall, adding another level of interest to the plant. As an added bonus, the foliage is highly resistant to powdery mildew that can plague other lilac varieties.
Blooming Season: The hyacinth lilac is one of the earliest blooming lilacs, often starting in mid-spring, about 7-10 days earlier than common lilacs.
Hardiness: It’s quite hardy, generally thriving in USDA zones 3-7. Most hyacinth lilacs are not suited to the heat of the south. They need a long period of winter chill for buds to mature and bloom the following spring. The recommended growing areas are zones 3 to 7. However, several Hyacinthiflora lilac cultivars with low-chill requirements have been bred for warmer zones, such as ‘Lavender Lady’, ‘California Rose’, ‘Excel’, and ‘Esther Staley’.
Uses: Given its size and showy flowers, this lilac is often used as a focal point in the garden. It is also commonly used in borders, screens, or as a standalone specimen plant.
Pollinators: The fragrant flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, making it an excellent addition to a pollinator-friendly garden.
Toxicity: Like other lilacs, the hyacinth lilac is not typically considered toxic to humans or pets, but ingestion can cause mild stomach upset.
Deer and Rabbit: Lilacs are usually resistant to damage from deer and rabbits, although extreme conditions may prompt these animals to eat plants they would usually avoid.
Drought: While this lilac can tolerate brief periods of drought once established, it prefers consistent moisture for optimal growth.
Invasiveness: This hybrid lilac is not known to be invasive.
Key Facts: The hyacinth lilac was created to combine the hardiness and fragrance of Syringa vulgaris with the early blooming habit of Syringa oblata, resulting in a robust, highly scented shrub that blooms earlier in spring.
Hardiness |
3 - 7 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 7 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Shrubs |
Genus | Syringa |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Mid), Fall |
Height | 8' - 12' (240cm - 3.7m) |
Spread | 8' - 12' (240cm - 3.7m) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Rabbit |
Attracts | Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees |
Landscaping Ideas | Patio And Containers, Hedges And Screens, Beds And Borders, Small Gardens |
Hardiness |
3 - 7 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 7 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Shrubs |
Genus | Syringa |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Mid), Fall |
Height | 8' - 12' (240cm - 3.7m) |
Spread | 8' - 12' (240cm - 3.7m) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Rabbit |
Attracts | Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees |
Landscaping Ideas | Patio And Containers, Hedges And Screens, Beds And Borders, Small Gardens |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!