Wedgewood Blue Lilac
Wedgewood Blue Lilac
Fragrant Lilac-Blue Blooms From Soft Pink Buds
Wedgewood Blue Lilac (Syringa vulgaris 'Wedgewood Blue') is a beloved French lilac prized for the way its pink buds open to clear, lilac-blue flowers, creating a charming two-tone effect at peak bloom. The clusters are intensely fragrant and butterfly-friendly. Tough, cold-hardy, and deer-resistant, it makes a wonderful fragrant screen or specimen for gardens in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove.
Wedgewood Blue Lilac Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Syringa vulgaris 'Wedgewood Blue' |
| Mature Size | 6–8 ft. tall, 5–6 ft. wide |
| Hardiness Zone | 3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) |
| Light | Full sun (6+ hours for best bloom) |
| Bloom Time | Mid to late spring |
| Flower Color | Lilac-blue opening from pink buds, fragrant |
| Soil | Well-drained; tolerates clay; prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soil |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to -40°F — lilacs love Minnesota winters |
| Deer Resistance | Rarely browsed by deer |
Landscape Uses in Minnesota
Fragrant screens and specimens: Plant where the scent can be enjoyed; space 5–6 feet apart for an informal flowering screen.
Pollinator and cut-flower gardens: Butterflies love the blooms and they're superb cut. Pair with peonies, catmint, and salvia.
Best Time to Plant in Minnesota
Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September) in full sun with good drainage.
How to Plant Wedgewood Blue Lilac
Dig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth, mixing in compost. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep, keeping mulch off the stems. Space 5–6 feet apart.
Watering Wedgewood Blue Lilac
First year: Water deeply every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.
After year one: Quite drought-tolerant — water during extended dry spells. Avoid soggy soil.
Q: Why are the flowers two-toned?
Pink buds open to lilac-blue, so the shrub shows both colors at once during peak bloom — a signature of this variety.
Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Absolutely — lilacs are among the toughest cold-climate shrubs and need winter chill to bloom well.
Q: How do I keep it blooming?
Full sun and pruning right after flowering (it blooms on old wood). Avoid late-summer pruning.
Q: Is it deer-resistant?
Yes — deer rarely browse lilacs.
You May Also Like
Beauty of Moscow Lilac (Syringa vulgaris): A double white-blush heirloom lilac.
Charles Joly Lilac (Syringa vulgaris): A deep magenta double French lilac.
Peony (Paeonia): A fragrant spring companion.
How Many Wedgewood Blue Lilac Do I Need?
Wedgewood Blue matures about 5–6 ft wide. For a fragrant informal flowering screen, space plants roughly 5 ft on center:
| Screen Run | Plants Needed (5 ft spacing) |
|---|---|
| 10 ft | 2 |
| 20 ft | 4 |
| 30 ft | 6 |
| 40 ft | 8 |
As a specimen, one plant makes a generous fragrant focal point; in groups, plant 3 about 5 ft apart for a fuller two-tone display.
Wedgewood Blue Lilac Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Soft pink buds open to clear lilac-blue, intensely fragrant clusters in mid to late spring — a two-tone show that draws butterflies and bees.
- Summer: Clean, heart-shaped green foliage forms a dense, rounded shrub.
- Fall: Foliage drops without notable color — a quiet season.
- Winter: A sturdy twig framework hardy to -40°F that needs the deep Minnesota chill to set next spring's buds.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Beauty of Moscow Lilac — a double white-blush heirloom lilac that softens the blue.
- Charles Joly Lilac — a deep magenta double French lilac for bold contrast.
- Virtual Violet Lilac — a modern deep-violet lilac to extend the color range.
- Miss Kim Lilac — a compact, late-blooming lilac that carries fragrance later into the season.
Is Wedgewood Blue Lilac Right for Your Yard?
Wedgewood Blue thrives in full sun (6+ hours) with well-drained, neutral-to-alkaline soil and enough room for its 6–8 ft frame; given that, it delivers heavy fragrant bloom and shrugs off deer and cold. Skip it for soggy, poorly drained sites or shady beds, where bloom thins and lilacs become prone to powdery mildew.