Plant Finder

Brand:  First Editions

Description:

A showstopper, with shiny violet new leaves, and deep purple stems; produces a plethora of sweetly fragrant violet flowers from raspberry purple buds in spring; full sun and well-drained soil

Ornamental Features

Virtual Violet® Lilac is covered in stunning panicles of fragrant violet flowers at the ends of the branches in late spring, which emerge from distinctive fuchsia flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has attractive emerald green deciduous foliage which emerges violet in spring. The small pointy leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall colour. The smooth gray bark and deep purple branches are extremely showy and add significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Virtual Violet® Lilac is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined 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 butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Virtual Violet® Lilac is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Virtual Violet® Lilac will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow 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.