About Declaration Bare Root Lilac Bush

Syringa × hyacinthiflora ‘Declaration’
Breeder: Dr. Donald Egolf / U.S. National Arboretum | Introduced: 2006 | Type: Early-Flowering Hybrid Lilac | Hardiness: Zones 5–7

💜 Dramatic reddish-purple flowers, incredible fragrance, and enormous clusters—Declaration makes its presence known.

Declaration is an exceptional early-flowering lilac developed by the U.S. National Arboretum. In spring, the upright shrub produces an abundance of striking dark reddish-purple flowers in exceptionally large, fragrant clusters.

It also gets the lilac season started early, typically flowering 7–10 days before common lilacs. The combination of rich color, fragrance, and those oversized flower clusters makes Declaration equally impressive in the landscape and cut for the vase.

🌸 Flower & Garden Details

Flower Color: Deep reddish purple
Flower: Single, arranged in very large flower clusters
Fragrance: Strong, classic lilac fragrance
Bloom Season: Early spring; approximately 7–10 days before common lilacs
Foliage: Clean, medium green
Habit: Open, upright and rounded
Size: Approximately 8–9 feet tall × 6–7 feet wide at maturity
Light: Full sun to light shade
Hardiness: USDA Zones 5–7
Cut Flower: Excellent
Best Uses: Cutting gardens, fragrant hedges, screens, shrub borders and specimen plantings

🇺🇸 An American-Bred Lilac

Declaration has an impressive pedigree.

It originated from a controlled cross made by legendary U.S. National Arboretum breeder Dr. Donald Egolf in 1978, combining ‘Sweet Charity’ × ‘Pocahontas’. From those seedlings, Declaration was selected for its enormous flower clusters, deep reddish-purple coloring, fragrance and strong upright growth.

After decades of evaluation at the National Arboretum, it was officially released in 2006.

That's nearly 30 years between the original cross and its introduction—a pretty good reminder of just how much time can go into creating an exceptional new plant.

💛 Why Grace Rose Farm Loves It

Declaration doesn't whisper that spring has arrived. It announces it.

We love the combination of those enormous, saturated purple flower clusters and classic lilac perfume. Because it flowers earlier than traditional common lilacs, it's also a wonderful variety for gardeners who want to extend their overall lilac season.

Plant it with later-blooming lilacs and you'll get weeks of successive flowers—and plenty of stems to bring indoors.

🌿 Growing & Care

Plant Declaration in full sun for the heaviest flowering, although it can tolerate some light shade. Give it fertile, well-drained soil and consistent moisture while the bare-root plant establishes.

Declaration naturally develops into a taller, upright shrub, making it particularly useful toward the back of a border or as a fragrant flowering screen.

If pruning is needed, do it immediately after flowering. Like other lilacs, Declaration develops the following year's flower buds after its spring bloom, so pruning later in the season can remove next year's flowers.

And definitely cut some stems for the house. With flower clusters this dramatic and fragrant, leaving every one outside would almost be a shame.