Syringa vulgaris 'Charles Joly' Tree

Panicles of purple flowers packed closely together release a wonderfully strong yet sweet fragrance from Syringa vulgaris 'Charles Joly' in May-June. The purple flowers stand out well against the backdrop of pretty, heart-shaped, mid-green foliage in spring and summer.

A popular Purple Lilac tree, Syringa Charles Joly actually grows into more of a large bush up to 3.5 x 3.5 metres in 20 years. It requires a well-drained soil in a sunny spot, but is accepting of most soil types and alkaline soils.

Syringa vulgaris 'Charles Joly' is a wonderful choice of Lilac tree for a sensory or nature garden. It entices lots of wildlife such as bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Lilac Charles Joly holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

AKA Lilac Charles Joly, Purple Lilac tree, Common Lilac

• Common name: Purple Lilac tree
• Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
• Height and spread in 20 years: 3.5 x 3.5 metres
• Flowers: Panicles of purple flowers in spring
• Foliage: Mid-green, heart-shaped leaves in spring and summer
• Soil: Prefers a moist, well-drained site but will tolerate most soil types

Planting Advice for Syringa vulgaris Charles Joly Trees

Our pot grown Charles Joly Lilac trees can be planted at any time of the year. Choose a sunny position for the planting site and start by removing weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole. Dig a square hole as deep as the root mass and approximately twice as wide. To help the tree establish more effectively, we recommend sprinkling root grow in the hole.

Remove the pot, gently tease the roots and place into the planting hole. Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost and fill in the hole. Firm around gently, avoiding banking soil up around the collar of the plant. Whilst bush forms of Lilac Charles Joly do not require a stake and tie support, single stem tree forms do.

Aftercare Advice for Syringa Charles Joly Trees

If you’re planting in spring or summer, water well for the first few months. Increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. If planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. Irrigation kits make it easier.

Once planted, keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons.

Pruning Syringa vulgaris Charles Joly Trees

Pruning is encouraged when it comes to Charles Joly Lilac trees. If you wish to maintain a bush rather than a tree, allow the side growth to flourish and simply prune after flowering. For a tree effect, prune the longest, oldest branches that lie closest to the ground.

If your Charles Joly Lilac begins to look overcrowded, remove inner branches to allow more light and air inside the canopy. Always prune dead flowers and damaged or diseased branches.

Mature Lilac trees that have become overgrown can be hard pruned back to their former glory, but it will take time. Never prune a lilac tree back by more than a third of its size. Do this one season at a time, allowing the tree to recover in between. Apply a fertiliser each autumn and again in spring, just before flowering.

Delivery Costs

*Free delivery promotion excludes mature trees, extra large kits and delivery to Highlands or Islands. Discount applies at checkout.

Delivery Times

Next Day Despatch
We will always try to get your plants to you as quickly as possible.  For many of our trees and plants, if you order today we will despatch your order within 24 hours.  We are constantly adding to our range of next day plants, and we do not add a surcharge for this service. Click here to see our next day delivery plants.

Standard Delivery
We have one of the widest range of trees in the UK, and for those plants which we cannot despatch next day we will normally despatch within 4 weeks. The despatch time for different products will be confirmed when products are added to your shopping basket

Pre-orders
We will only want to deliver your orders when they are perfect for planting! Depending on the season and how well the plants are growing, we will give our best estimates of the despatch dates for pre-orders.  These dates may vary and by species and while we will always try to deliver within these timeframes if the expected despatch does change then we will notify you by email.

Special Orders
Orders containing pleached or mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) are delivered within 3 weeks. They require specialist delivery and are grouped geographically. Any customers ordering pleached or mature trees will be contacted and notified of their delivery date.

If your trees are required by a specific date, please let us know as soon as possible; while we can’t offer any guarantees we will always do our best to accommodate you. You can leave instructions in the notes field on the Delivery Page of the Checkout or send us an email at [email protected].

Please note that orders are shipped once all the trees in the order are ready.

Collections
Collections are by appointment only at our West Yorkshire-based nursery. If you would like to place an order for collection, please get in touch before placing your order. You will not be charged a delivery cost for a collection and any delivery cost that has been applied will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. *Pot sizes may vary. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem tree: Classic tree with one trunk, pruned for a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces.

Feathered tree: Branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem tree: Two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that give the appearance of a bushy multi stem tree.

Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height.