Lilacs, the Sweet Smell of Spring

By Jos Van Hage

Not many outdoor flowering shrubs can compete with the fragrance and showy floral display of the Lilac (Syringa). Since being introduced into America in the 1600’s, these showy plants can be seen blooming throughout North America. They do very well in the Prince George area as they do best in climates where they receive a few weeks of frosty temperatures. With so many varieties to choose from, the difficulty may be in choosing just one for your landscape.

Different varieties bloom at different times so by planting a few different types you will be able to enjoy the fragrant blossoms for many weeks throughout the spring/summer. Lilac flowers also come in a range of colors with shades of white, pink, blue, lavender, and purple. The showy flowers are actually clusters of tiny florets that are single or double. Lilac plants come in varying heights depending on the variety; from the 1-meter dwarf types right up to 5-meter tree variety, but most types grow somewhere in between at 2-3 meters. They tend to have a spread of 1.5 to 3 meters so give them space when planting them.

If you are looking for an early blooming, variety then choose from the American hybrids ‘Syringa hyacinthaflora’. They are known for their fast growing habit, ability to bloom at any size, and being the most fragrant. In addition, they do not produce suckers, which makes them a great choice for many homeowners. The next types to bloom would be the mid-season ‘French Hybrid Cultivators’ and the ‘Common Lilacs’. The Common Lilacs are the old fashioned lilacs which produce many suckers, whereas the French Hybrids do not sucker as much. The last to bloom would be the ‘Japanese Tree Lilac’ (Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’). It has a compact oval shape and is slow growing and can be become very tall. Very hardy, it is known for its productive yield of white fragrant flowers and dark cherry like bark. If you are looking for something smaller, the Manchurian Lilac (Syringa patula) ‘Miss Kim’ is ideal as it is a slow growing dwarf growing 1-1.5 meters tall. The Preston Lilacs are large summer flowering plants that have subtle fragrance and are non-suckering.

When planting lilacs choose a sunny location where the soil is rich and well drained. They can tolerate some drought however they bloom better when sufficiently watered. Prone to powdery mildew they should be planted in an area where there is good air circulation as this should help prevent this problem. If you have problems in getting your lilac to bloom, give it a couple of handfuls of bonemeal which contains no nitrogen but lots of phosphorous which aids in flower formation. Also never prune your lilac until after it has finished blooming as the plant forms next years flowers in this years summer so if you were to prune in early spring you would be pruning off all the potential blooms. For a higher flower production, you always want to remove the old flowers after they have finished blooming so that they do not spend their energy into forming seed but rather into new flowers. Old flowers are removed just above points where the buds are forming.

Lilacs are an attractive and fragrant addition to any landscape, and the flowers make beautiful bouquets that can be enjoyed indoors as well!

-Jos-

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