A U.S. National Arboretum introduction, 2000.
{? × S. oblata}
Single white.
‘Betsy Ross’ is the first lilac cultivar to be released by the U.S. National Arboretum. It is an early-blooming lilac, well adapted to warmer climates and having good field tolerance to powdery mildew. ‘Betsy Ross’ was selected for its abundant, white, fragrant flowers and compact, rounded growth habit.
‘Betsy Ross’ is the product of a lilac hybridization program initiated in the early 1970’s by the late Dr. Donald Egolf to develop superior, disease-tolerant lilacs for warmer climates. ‘Betsy Ross’ originated from a cross made in 1977 using Syringa oblata collected in China as the male parent and an unidentified Syringa from Highland Park, Rochester, NY, as the female parent.
It was named by Dr. Margaret Pooler after Betsy Ross [1752-1836], who sewed the first American flag.
Please stay tuned for the U.S. National Arboretum to release two more lilacs as part of their series of three lilac introductions.