Agincourt Beauty Lilac

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

8 - 15 Feet

Mature Spread

6-10+ Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 6

Agincourt Beauty Lilac is one of the best purple-flowering Lilacs available today. This heavy bloomer has intensely purple flowers with an unforgettable Lilac scent. The other significant aspect of this Lilac is that it produces far fewer sucker shoots than other varieties, making it ideal for a smaller garden or growing in a large container. Syringa vulgaris is extremely low maintenance and great when used as an informal hedge in the cottage garden or as a windbreak in a naturalized area. Beneficial pollinators and hummingbirds are drawn to the nectar-filled flowers during bloom time in April and May.

Agincourt Beauty is a more compact size that does not need cutting back of sucker shoots each year. The deciduous leaves give a fresh look to this shrub throughout the summer and will briefly turn lovely shades of yellow and orange for the fall. Lilacs are a natural backdrop for the herbaceous border or naturalized garden areas. When Agincourt Beauty matures, it is deer and rabbit resistant. Lilacs can also tolerate periods of hotter and drier weather when mature. Regular watering is a must during the first 2-3 years after planting to ensure that the shrub establishes a robust root system. 

Agincourt Beauty Lilac Care

Plant Lilacs in a site with full sun and good drainage year-round. A soil with neutral to alkaline pH and a rich loamy texture is preferred. Add a yearly mulch of organic compost, shredded leaves, or fine arborist chips to help the soil retain moisture over the summer. Water Lilacs when the top 3-4 inches of soil are dry. Soak the root zone well and keep the foliage as dry as possible. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses are perfect for deeply watering shrubs and perennials while keeping the top growth dry. Lilacs can be fertilized with a slow-release granular fertilizer in the spring. Choose a formulation for Roses or blooming shrubs, add the recommended dosage to the root zone around the shrub, and lightly scratch it into the soil. 

All Lilacs will need pruning every 2-3 years to keep their growth vigorous and shape in check. Agincourt Beauty has been bred to produce far fewer sucker shoots than other Lilacs and will keep its vase shape much more effortlessly. Remove the oldest stems to the ground, thinning the shrub out by one-third of the total growth. Pruning to keep the shrub short or at a certain height should only be done after blooming. Lilacs bloom on the previous year's growth, so no late-winter or spring pruning is recommended. Old Lilacs that have outgrown their space or only bloom at the tips of the branches can be cut back very hard to within 8 to 12 inches of the ground. The best time for this is midsummer so that flowers for the following year can still form.

Agincourt Beauty Lilac Spacing

Lilacs typically grow in a vase shape that is wider at the top. Space Agincourt Beauty 6-8 feet apart on center when planting as an informal hedge. Planted on its own, you can put shorter shrubs or perennials as close as 2-3 feet from the base of this Lilac.