Monge Purple Lilac

The Monge Lilac grows into a rounded deciduous shrub, reaching 10 to 12 feet tall and wide. It has mid-green heart-shaped leaves and blooms in late spring with a magnificent display of rich purple blossoms. The color is warm, with a touch of red, and the flowers are carried in large bunches, up to 9 inches long. The blooms fill the garden with a wonderful fragrance, attracting butterflies and even hummingbirds. Grow it as the background to your shrub beds, as a lawn specimen or among small trees.

• Enormous bunches of rich purple flowers in spring
• A beautiful fragrance that fills the garden
• Essential shrub for gardens in colder zones
• Grows well in alkaline soils
• Resistant to deer

A spot in full sun is best for the Monge Lilac, which will also take a little shade, but not too much, or flowering will be reduced. It grows in most soils, including clays and alkaline ones, but not in wet, soggy ground. Enrich the soil and mulch with organic material, and water as needed for the best results. Remove spent flower heads as soon as they fade, to encourage next year’s blooms. Tough enough to deal with pests or diseases, and usually untouched by deer, this is an easy plant that anyone can grow.