Congo Lilac
Syringa vulgaris 'Congo'
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Congo Lilac is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150+ | $24.99 |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Congo Lilac highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Pollinator Friendly
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodEarly Spring, Late Spring
Growing Zones 3-8
Make a big statement each spring with a profuse display of red buds and sweet-scented magenta-purple flower panical clusters that reach nearly a foot-long! Congo Lilac (Syringa vulgaris 'Congo') is a beloved French Hybrid Lilac and classic Herloom plant! It is well-known for its exceptional hardiness and vigor.
Well-branched Lilac shrubs work hard in any landscape, and heirloom Congo Lilac is no exception. Their long-lasting spring display is a favorite nectar resource for honeybees and butterflies, but these prolific blooms allow you plenty of stems so you won't feel feel bad sneaking a few blooms for cut flower arrangements indoors!
With bold color and heavy bloom production, easy-care Congo is cloaked for summer in heart-shaped green foliage! It makes a worthy addition to just about any garden and does very well throughout the USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8. Requiring fewer chill hours to bloom, Congo is among the few Lilacs that reliably bloom in warmer climates.
Planting and Application:
Set up your outdoor entertainment area to take advantage of the other side of your privacy hedge. Lilac shrubs make near-perfect privacy, you'll love their shelter but never feel penned in, it becomes an impressive screen that couldn't be easier to care for! Your birds will adore the shelter too!
Carve out a private reading nook for yourself with a hammock or chaise on the far end. What wonderful memories you'll create each spring! Plant a big, blowsy hedge along your property line. You'll gift your entire neighborhood with their delightful fragrance. Create groupings for incredible depth of color!
Choose Congo Lilac to use as an anchor at the corner of your home's front yard foundation planting. This is a light-hearted choice that offers plenty of interest and lives nearly forever with proper care!
Use a showy row of these durable Lilacs as a large-scale backdrop for Butterfly and Pollinator Gardens! These are bright pops of color for any sunny location throughout your landscape!
- Big Bold Deep Purple Blooms
- Incredible Fragrance
- Dark Green Foliage
- Easy-Care French Hybrid Heirloom Lilac Variety
- Specimen, Accent, Shade, Privacy & Hedges
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Lilacs are easy-care and cold resistance and Heirloom Congo Lilac has it all! It also loves the full sun! Not particular on soil type, any rich well-drained soil is best, preferring slightly alkaline soils. Amend with compost and add organic, slow-release blooming shrub fertilizer in spring. Be sure Lilac does not sit in water, nor dry out for too long to protect your investment.
A generous layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture as well as insulate the root system from heat and chill. Water well through the crucial establishment period and during extended drought. Be sure to not cluster Lilac too tightly among other large trees or shrubs.
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.
Don't miss a single bloom! Follow these easy Pruning steps for the best flowering. It is important not to prune Lilacs until after they have finished blooming, because if you wait too long and you may remove next year's flowers! Every few years, Lilac benefits from a renewal pruning too.
- Blooms Best in Full Sun
- Well-Drained Enriched Soil
- Moderate Moisture & Mulched Beds
- Long-Lived & Low Maintenance
- Rarely Bothered by Deer
- Cold & Drought Tolerant
Incredible deep dark blooms and wonderful fragrance. Order the French Hybrid Heirloom Congo Lilac today at NatureHills.com and enjoy big bold color and ease of care!
Frequently Asked Questions
How big does Congo Lilacs get?
The Congo Lilac can obtain a mature height of 8-10 feet and spread of 6-8 feet wide.
How fast do Lilacs grow?
Lilacs have a medium growth rate and one might see 1 - 2 feet of new growth per year in optimal growing conditions.
Are Lilacs a tree or a bush?
Lilacs are shrub-form plants that can be pruned into small tree-form specimens if desired.
Which is the most fragrant Lilac?
Lilac's iconic scent lasts for a week or more after they've opened and some of the most fragrant (arguably) are the Beauty of Moscow, President Grevy, the yellow Primrose and the Sensation Lilac!
What shipping options do you offer?
NatureHills.com works closely with our growers and nursery professionals to ensure we ship when it is most appropriate for your area. Our goal is to deliver the hardiest plants by avoiding extreme high and low temperatures. Check out our shipping schedule for more information and to learn our wills and won'ts when it comes to shipping plants. Find your Congo Lilac for sale here at NatureHills.com!
