Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Syringa x 'Old Glory'
Old Glory Lilac
- Family
- Oleaceae
- Height
- 8 to 10 ft
- Width
- 6 to 8 ft
- Flower color
- Reddish-purple to deep rose-purple, fragrant flower clusters
- Foliage color
- Medium to dark green, broadly heart-shaped leaves
- Bloom time
- Early spring
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Moderate; prune immediately after flowering to shape and remove spent clusters
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 7
- Wildlife
- Fragrant blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
About this plant
Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Old Glory' bears fragrant lilac-to-purple flower clusters that open in mid-spring, often a bit earlier than many common lilacs. Buds deepen to reddish purple, then unfold into single florets with a cool, bluish cast. The blooms sit at branch tips in tidy, upright panicles that work well for cutting.
Bred at the U.S. National Arboretum, this selection was developed for dependable garden performance, including in regions with warm summers. New shoots may flush bronze, then mature to thick, deep green foliage with good tolerance to common lilac leaf diseases, helping it stay presentable after bloom.
Companion plants
Catmint · Feather reed grass · Salvias · Coneflowers · Lavenders · Sedums
Design tip
Count on ‘Old Glory’ for a polished presence after its early spring flowers fade. Its thick, deep green foliage has good disease tolerance, helping the shrub maintain a clean appearance through summer and provide lasting structure within mixed plantings.
