Plant Library

Group/Class:  Preston Lilac

Description:

An extremely attractive and hardy lilac with upright panicles of lightly fragrant lilac-purple flowers in late spring; multi-stemmed and very compact, forms a large upright ball; an ideal size for the garden; not a profuse bloomer but non-suckering

Ornamental Features

Charisma Lilac features showy panicles of lightly-scented lilac purple flowers rising above the foliage in late spring, which emerge from distinctive hot pink flower buds. It has light green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn buttery yellow in fall.

Landscape Attributes

Charisma Lilac is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, 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. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Charisma Lilac is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Charisma Lilac will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy. 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.