This Lilac has a relatively coarse texture and dark green leaves can be used to stand it apart from other lighter shorter 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 butterflies but not deer.

The Agnes Smith Lilac will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 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.

The Difference Between French Hybrids and Preston Lilacs

Characteristic..........French Hybrid........Preston

Suckering...................YES......................NO

Fragrance.................INTENSE..............SUBTLE

Bloom Period..........EARLY SPRING......LATE SPRING

Blossoms..................DOUBLE............. SINGLE

Leaves.......................SMOOTH.............CRENELATED

Fascinating Foliage Facts

The Preston Lilacs were developed by Isabella Preston in the early 1920s. Born in 1881 in Lancaster England, she emigrated to Canada in 1912 where she worked at the Ontario Agricultural College (now Guelph University) to become the first woman hybridist in Canada. At her death in 1965 she had developed hundreds of hardier varieties of lilies, lilacs, crabapples iris and roses.