Other Names:  Hyacinth-Flowered Lilac

Group/Class:  Early Flowering Lilac

Description:

An exceptional spring blooming lilac with overwhelmingly fragrant pink flowers from dark red buds; upward spreading, multi-stemmed habit, very hardy, limited suckering, good for borders or screening; needs full sun and well-drained soil.

Ornamental Features

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

Landscape Attributes

Necker 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. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Necker Lilac is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Necker Lilac will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 3 feet 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.