President Grevy Lilac

Moderate; grows 8–12 inches per year under ideal conditions.

Mature size: about 8–12 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide, forming a rounded, upright shrub.

Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with its fragrant flowers.

Provides cover and nesting sites for small birds.

Deer resistant, rarely browsed due to aromatic foliage and woody stems.

Spring: Magnificent bloom display of lavender-blue, double flowers.

Summer: Lush green foliage adds structure and shade.

Fall: Leaves fade to light yellow-green before dropping.

Winter: Woody stems provide form and contrast in dormant gardens.

– Excellent for hedges, specimen plantings, cottage gardens, borders, or fragrant cut-flower gardens

Simple, heart-shaped leaves, medium to dark green with smooth texture and matte sheen.

Leaves provide dense coverage throughout the growing season, turning light yellow-green in fall.

Produces large, conical panicles (8–12 inches long) of double lavender-blue flowers with a soft, elegant appearance.

Blooms are highly fragrant, filling the garden with classic lilac perfume.

Flower color deepens in cooler weather and maintains vibrancy through the bloom period.

Blooms in mid to late spring, slightly later than many other common lilacs.

Prune immediately after flowering, as next season’s buds form soon after blooms fade.

Remove spent flower clusters (deadheading) to prevent seed formation and promote next year’s blooms.

Every 3–5 years, thin older stems at ground level to rejuvenate the plant and improve airflow.

Avoid pruning in summer or fall to preserve next year’s buds.

Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system.

Once established, moderately drought tolerant, but prefers deep, occasional watering during dry spells.

Avoid waterlogged soil—good drainage is essential.

Requires full sun (6+ hours daily) for abundant blooms and healthy foliage.

Tolerates light partial shade but with reduced flowering.

After flowering, produces small, brown, dry seed capsules that split open when mature.

Seeds are non-ornamental and typically pruned off to direct energy into vegetative growth.

Cut flowers are excellent for vases—harvest early in the morning when florets are half open for longest vase life and fragrance.

Fertilize in early spring before new growth with a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10).

Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen, as this can reduce flower production.

Apply a layer of compost annually to enrich the soil and retain moisture.

Insect-pollinated, mainly by bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators.

Flowers are self-fertile, though cross-pollination with other lilac cultivars can increase seed set.

Excellent nectar source for spring pollinators.

Perennials: Peonies, Iris, Salvia, Daylilies, and Nepeta for complementary textures and staggered bloom times.

Shrubs: Forsythia, Weigela, Spiraea, and Deutzia for colorful spring combinations.

Evergreens: Boxwood or Juniper for year-round contrast.

Works beautifully in cottage gardens, mixed borders, and as a specimen shrub near patios or entryways.