President Grevy Lilac

President Grevy Lilac (Syringa vulgaris 'President Grevy')

President Grevy Lilac, Syringa vulgaris 'President Grevy', is a classic French hybrid lilac admired for its large, soft blue lavender flower clusters and strong, nostalgic fragrance on a substantial upright shrub. In mid to late spring, buds open to cool toned panicles that read as pale lilac blue from a distance, lighting up sunny borders and drawing in bees and butterflies. Heart shaped green leaves fill the framework the rest of the season, so even after bloom this lilac anchors beds and screens with reliable structure and presence. Planted near paths, patios, or open windows, President Grevy quickly becomes a spring focal point you look forward to each year.

Distinctive Features

President Grevy Lilac typically grows about 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, forming an upright, multi stemmed shrub with a rounded outline. Large, conical trusses are packed with many small, double looking florets in soft blue violet tones, giving the flower clusters a full, plush appearance in the garden. The cool color holds well on the plant and shows beautifully against the fresh green foliage, especially in morning and evening light. Strong stems carry the blooms at the tips of the branches, creating a dramatic sheet of color at eye level when the plant is in full flower while the leafy framework continues to provide screening and background once flowering has finished.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Thrives in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light each day for heavy flowering, strong stems, and reliable bud set.
• Soil: Prefers well drained, moderately fertile soil and performs best in neutral to slightly alkaline conditions, but adapts to most average garden soils that do not stay wet.
• Water: Water regularly during the first few seasons to establish a deep root system; once established, provide occasional deep soakings during extended dry periods rather than frequent light watering.
• Hardiness: Well suited to cold winter regions where lilacs are traditionally grown, provided drainage is good and roots are not waterlogged.
• Size: Forms a substantial shrub about 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide at maturity, depending on climate, soil, and pruning.
• Growth Rate: Moderate grower that builds its main framework over several years and then settles into a steady pattern of spring bloom and summer foliage.

Ideal Uses

• Spring Feature Plant: Place near patios, decks, or main walkways where the cool blue lavender blooms and fragrance can be enjoyed up close.
• Informal Screens and Hedges: Plant in a loose row or staggered grouping to create a seasonal privacy screen that flowers in spring and remains leafy through summer.
• Mixed Shrub Borders: Combine with viburnums, hydrangeas, spireas, and evergreens to build layered borders with strong structure and changing color throughout the year.
• Cottage and Homestead Gardens: Pair with peonies, irises, phlox, and traditional perennials for a timeless country garden look with strong spring scent.
• Cut Flower Gardens: Grow near cutting beds so you can easily harvest long, blossom filled stems that bring soft blue lavender color and fragrance indoors.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: After establishment, water during hot or very dry weather with deep, occasional soakings to keep roots hydrated without saturating the soil.
• Pruning: Prune just after flowering by removing spent flower clusters and thinning a few of the oldest stems at ground level to encourage vigorous new shoots and maintain a balanced shape; avoid heavy pruning late in the season, which can reduce bloom the following spring.
• Fertilizing: In early spring, apply a light dose of balanced, slow release fertilizer or a layer of compost if soil is lean, and avoid heavy nitrogen that favors leafy growth over flowers.
• Mulching: Maintain a 2 to 3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch a few inches away from the main stems.
• Seasonal Care: Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter or right after bloom, and manage basal suckers based on whether you want a wider clump or a narrower outline.

Why Choose President Grevy Lilac?

• Soft Blue Lavender Blooms: Large, cool toned flower clusters offer a refined color that blends beautifully with many spring palettes.
• Classic Lilac Fragrance: Strong, sweet perfume turns paths, patios, and open windows into scented spring experiences.
• Timeless Garden Presence: Upright, rounded habit and clean green foliage provide lasting height, screening, and backbone in sunny borders.
• Excellent for Cutting: Long stems with full, plush trusses are ideal for generous, fragrant bouquets and simple vases indoors.
• Reliable Focal Point: With good sun, drainage, and timely pruning, President Grevy Lilac returns year after year as a dependable focal point, adding cool color, scent, and structure to traditional borders, informal screens, and classic mixed shrub plantings.

With its large soft blue lavender blooms, powerful fragrance, and substantial upright habit, President Grevy Lilac is an excellent choice for adding a standout spring focal point, fragrant cut flowers, and long lasting structure to sunny gardens and outdoor living spaces.