This time of year the air is filled with the fragrance of Lilacs (Syringa) . Their large fragrant flowers are hard to miss. They are a deciduous flowering shrub that is a favourite among many local landscapes as they are easy to grow and care for, hardy, and do not require a lot of maintenance and are rarely bothered by pests or disease. How can you not want one growing in your own landscape?

 

There are many different varieties that come in different sizes, with different bloom times, and different coloured flowers, so if planned and planted carefully, you could plant several different lilacs and have lilacs blooming for many weeks throughout late spring, and early summer.

 

The earliest to bloom are the fast growing, hardy American hybrids . They have large clusters of very fragrant flowers and one nice feature is that the plant does not sucker as some other types do, so you don’t have to worry about it taking over the landscape.

Lilacs that bloom mid-season are the French Hybrid Cultivators and the Common Lilacs. The Common Lilac is the old fashioned Lilac and is known for its suckering habit. The French Hybrids are known for their strong scent, and do not sucker as much.

 

The last to bloom are the Preston lilacs, and Japanese Tree Lilacs.

 

Also available now is the ‘Boomerang’ Lilac, This lilac will bloom twice in one season. In spring and then again in late summer.

 

When choosing a site to plant lilacs, choose it carefully as lilacs are known for their longevity. They are a long living shrub that can live well over a hundred years. Another thing to consider before planting, is the mature size of the plant. I have often seen a homeowner plant a tree or shrub in that ‘perfect’ spot only to find that after a few years the tree/shrub has out grown that spot.

 

Lilacs grow best in a rich, fertile, well drained soil. Once established they can handle some drought, but do best when they are sufficiently watered. They need full sun (at least 6 hours) to bloom at their best. They also do best with good air circulation as this will prevent powdery mildew which lilacs are sometimes prone to.

 

Lilacs do not require a lot of work. If they need to be pruned, wait till after they have finished blooming. This is because they bloom on old wood, so this year’s flowers were already set last year. If you were to prune a lilac in the spring before it had a chance to bloom, you would be pruning off potential flowers. Prune lilacs to keep them in shape. Remove any suckers, and any dead, weak, or crooked branches.

 

To rejuvenate the plant, remove the oldest branches back to ground level. Even if your lilac doesn’t need to be pruned, it is still a good idea to remove the finished flowers, to prevent them from forming seeds which takes energy away for forming new flowers. It also keeps the plant looking neat and tidy. When removing the finished flowers, remove them at the next leave bud or at the next new shoot.

 

To help get a lilac to bloom give it a couple of handfuls of bonemeal. It has no nitrogen but is high in phosphorous which helps in flower formation.

 

Lilacs are an attractive and fragrant addition to any landscape. The flowers can be enjoyed outdoors or be brought indoors as cut flowers. If cared for properly a lilac will give you years of enjoyment, making them a worthwhile investment!