Congo French Lilac – 3 Gallon Pot

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One of the few more heat-tolerant Syringa, the Congo French Lilac requires fewer chill hours during winter, so it blooms reliably in warmer climates to Zone 8, and is hardy to winter low temperatures of -40F. Introduced in the late 1800s and just as popular today as it was then, ‘Congo’ is a late-blooming French Lilac featuring large and abundant showy panicles of wonderfully fragrant, rich magenta-purple flowers. The flowers are excellent for cutting and enjoying indoors, and the butterflies and other beneficial pollinators love them. The heart-shaped leaves remain attractive through summer. A tall grower, 8 to 10 feet high and 6 to 8 feet wide, Congo can be grown as a large shrub, or lower branches can be removed to form a beautiful small tree. One of those plants that will always have you looking forward to spring, plant this sensory beauty near a window or patios, decks, and other outdoor living spaces where the pretty blooms and fragrance can be enjoyed up close. 

Growing to 8 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide or more, the Congo Lilac can be grown as a large shrub or small tree. As a shrub, it makes a fine specimen or mid-size hedge. As it grows taller, lower branches can be removed to form an attractive, small, multi-trunk tree. Plant near paths, walkways, and outdoor living spaces to enjoy the wonderful fragrance. A fine addition to fragrance gardens, purple theme gardens, cut flower gardens, butterfly gardens, and cottage gardens. 

Suggested Spacing:  5 to 6 feet apart for solid hedges; 12 feet or more apart for space between plants

The Congo Lilac is easy to grow in moist, well-drained soil with average fertility and full sun to light shade. Six or more hours of sunlight daily are suggested for the best flowering and overall performance. It prefers a neutral to alkaline soil pH between 6.5 and 8.0. Pelletized agricultural lime can be applied to sweeten the soil if necessary. Fertilize once in early spring with a light application of organic plant food or slow-release shrub and tree fertilizer. 

Lilacs set their buds for the following year’s blooms soon after the current spring bloom, so prune mature lilac bushes just after the flowers have faded in the spring. Later pruning will sacrifice blooms for the following year. At this time, you can remove spent blooms to stimulate new growth and more blooms the following year. Older lilacs generally produce more blooms on healthy, newer growth, rather than on older stems. So, after a lilac is 5 years old, you can start pruning to remove only the oldest, thickest stems. Cut these back to just a few inches above the ground. This will stimulate the production of new stems that will bear more flowers, while helping to maintain a fuller bush.