Lilacs are often thought to symbolize love, and it’s little wonder. With their magnificent blooms, unbelievable fragrance and sturdy nature they’re easy to love. Albert F. Holden Lilac (Syringa vulgaris ‘Albert F. Holden’) is a variety of Lilac that exemplifies these exceptional shrubs in every way! When other Lilac varieties have completed their bloom, your Albert F. Holden is just beginning!
The flowers are remarkable, with the delicate petals featuring a slight curl at the edges to reveal a silver-toned underside. The effect of the silver against the dark purple petals provides a superior bi-color effect that is particularly showy against the dark green leaves. Each petal combines with a multitude of others to form long panicles of blooms held aloft on strong stems above the foliage.
Lilacs have always been a favorite among gardeners, and Albert F. Holden Lilac is a fantastic way to prolong your Lilac blooms a bit later into the season. Very cold-hardy to USDA zones 3 up to 7, this adaptable, resistant Lilac variety rarely gets bothered by deer.
Planting and Application:
Plant a few for a decorative, yet durable privacy hedge. These make excellent accents near outbuildings or a wonderful, floral focal point for a sunny yard. Anchor a foundation planting or soften the corner of a garage corner while concealing an eyesore like an A/C unit or messy neighbor.
Your Albert F. Holden Lilac is a deciduous shrub that has an upright nature and rounded form. As if the visual effect of your Albert F. Holden weren’t enough, the brilliant blossoms emit a sweet fragrance that’s sure to be an irresistible draw to both pollinators and humans alike. Cut a few for your kitchen table and enjoy Albert F. Holden’s redolent bouquet both inside and out.
Create spring flowering backdrops to Rose and Cottage borders and turn any garden into a pollinator garden! You and your local birds will love the shelter and privacy these dense flowering shrubs provide!
Create a Lilac collection for non-stop spring blooms that smell amazing. Whether you have room for a long Lilac hedge or must pick and choose for a small yard, Albert F. Holden comes through in the end as a fantastic accent and focal point that extends your spring Lilac enjoyment! Especially when planted with early and mid-season blooming varieties!
- Large Bi-Color Dark Purple & Silvery Purple Blooms
- Late Spring Flowering
- Dark-Green Heart-Shaped Leaves
- Mid-Sized Rounded Shrub
- Hedge, Windbreak, Privacy, Shelterbelt & Fragrant Specimen
Tips for Care:
Albert F. Holden is adaptive to a variety of soils and even mildew resistant and blooms best in full sun so give it at least six hours of direct sunlight a day for best results. Well-drained soil is a must. If you need to improve the drainage of the site, bring in additional dirt for a raised bed. Mulch over the root system to keep it cool, and it breaks down to lowly improve the health of your soil over time.
Lilacs need a medium amount of water on a regular basis, especially during bloom time. While they will tolerate periodic drought as mature plants, we recommend you protect your plant with plenty of water.
If you live with deer in your area, apply repellent spray on planting day. Deer are hungry and curious, and you want to train them to leave your plants alone. Reapply according to the label.
Take care when applying lawn fertilizers near flowering shrubs. These high nitrogen formulas are designed to produce foliage, but will not support flower development. Instead, apply an all-purpose fertilizer for blooming plants in early spring. Reapply in mid-summer, following label directions for application rates.
Don’t miss a single bloom! Follow these easy Pruning steps for the best flowering:
Immediately after the flowers finish, get outside with your pruning loppers. Don’t wait, or you’ll risk missing out on next year’s blooms.
Snip the past blooms, and correct for shape at this time. Remove a few of the thickest stems out at the ground level to keep your shrub young and vibrant. Trim back stems that head into the middle of the canopy. The goal is to open up the shrub to good air circulation and more sunshine.
- Full Sun
- Adaptive To Many Well-Drained Soils
- Moderate Moisture & Mulched Beds
- Prune Immediately After Flowering
- Very Cold Hardy
- Powdery Mildew & Pest & Deer Resistant
With a late spring bloom, and its many other stellar qualities, it’s easy to see why Albert F. Holden Lilac is a popular Lilac choice among gardeners today!
