Syringa Prestoniae Agnes Smith

Syringa Prestoniae Agnes Smith

The Syringa Prestoniae hybrids (as opposed to the Syringa Vulgaris) were originally developed in Canada in the 1020s by Miss Isabella Preston (and are sometimes known as the Preston Lilacs or sometimes Canadian Lilac). Syringa Prestoniae hybrids are very hardy, vigorous growers and tend to be relatively late bloomers.

One of the best performers among the Preston Lilacs is Syringa Prestoniae Agnes Smith. This lilac hybrid produces clusters of pure white flowers with a sweet perfume. It flowers later than its Syringa Vulgaris cousins (Common Lilacs) by at least two weeks.

Syringa Prestoniae Agnes Smith is a small compact shrub, reaching eventual heights of around five feet. Despite its showy looks, this undemanding White flowering Lilac is very easy to grow as long as it is in a sunny position. If you do prune once per year, just enough to maintain the plant shape, you will reap the benefits in late spring!

Lilacs are generally very tough and robust and forgiving of drought and neglect. As a Canadian hybrid, Agnes Smith is particularly cold hardy. This as well as the fact that it won’t get overly big, makes Syringa Prestoniae Agnes Smith a perfect plant for a windy or exposed roof terrace.

For effect in the garden, best used either in mass plantings or planted as a single specimen.