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Key characteristics

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

Shrubs

Syringa x 'Old Glory'

Old Glory Lilac

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.

Light

Full sun

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Early spring

Find this plant

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.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)