Yankee Doodle Lilac Syringa vulgaris 'Yankee Doodle' Height: 15 feet Spread: 12 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 2b Other Names: Common Lilac Group/Class: Father Fiala Lilac Description: Huge panicles of deep purple flowers appear in abundance from dark purple buds in spring on this upright, multi-stemmed shrub; very hardy, tends to sucker, ideal for screening; full sun and well-drained soil, allow room for air movement Ornamental Features Yankee Doodle Lilac features showy panicles of fragrant purple flowers rising above the foliage in mid spring, which emerge from distinctive deep purple flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has bluish-green deciduous foliage. The heart-shaped leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color. Landscape Attributes Yankee Doodle 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 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 bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration; Yankee Doodle Lilac is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Yankee Doodle Lilac will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 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 does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. To help this plant achive its best flowering performance, periodically apply a flower-boosting fertilizer from early spring through into the active growing season. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.