lilacs

The fragrant clusters of flowers produced by lilac trees or bushes offer gardeners proof that spring has arrived. A native of Eastern Europe and Asia, lilacs grow in USDA hardiness zones 2 to 7. The colonists brought them to America in the 17th century. The trees thrive for decades with proper care, offering gardens and landscapes plenty of color and fragrance in the spring.

Various experts place the Lilacs’ origins in Asia, North Africa, southeast Europe, and the Himalayas. One of the first Common Lilacs, Syringa vulgaris, is believed to have been discovered by a plant researcher in Banat, Romania, where they were growing in the mountains on natural limestone, then, taken to France where it gained huge popularity in Paris.

The genus Syringa is named after Syrinx, an Arcadian virgin nymph who was turned into water-reeds in a desperate attempt to flee the lusty woodland god, Pan. Finding himself clutching only reeds rather than the beautiful naiad, Pan sighed and his breath produced a sound from the reeds, which he subsequently bound together to form the first panpipes; today, the nymph Syrinx has spawned the genus classifying plants whose stems can be used to make tubes. Although Lilac twigs are not hollow, they have a soft inner pulp that is easily hollowed out to make flutes or pipe stems.

Lilacs come in 15 color varieties: Purple and white, plus 13 different shades of purples and crèmes.

Typical vase life for Lilacs is only two to three days, but with proper handling, these flowers can last up to 10 days.

Description

Lilac trees range from 5 to 30 feet tall. The trees thrive in sunny locations protected from cold, strong winds. The trees sport pale green leaves with clusters of blossoms appearing in the spring. Flowering varies between mid-spring to early summer and, unfortunately, normally only lasts about three weeks or so, depending on the species and the weather (the warmer the spring, the earlier the blooms). Blossoms come in shades of purple, lavender, blue, pink, white or magenta, depending on the variety. Most of the blossoms produce a strong fragrance that smells best on a warm, sunny afternoon when the flowers open up completely. Shades vary depending on weather (hot versus cool and dry versus wet), year, soil, environment and overall location differences. With the exception of the Manchurian lilac, most lilac trees offer little fall interest.

Lilacs can vary in shape and/or form. Some may be rounded, vase-like, tall and spreading, tall and straight or a combination of these shapes. Lilacs have pyramidal clusters of blossoms with both single and double varieties - all with glossy green leaves.

Varieties

More than 200 lilac cultivars exist, giving gardeners plenty to choose from. The European common lilac (Syringa vulgaris), also known as the old-fashioned lilac, features purple or white flowers on a hardy, drought-tolerant tree. For year-round interest, the Manchurian lilac (Syringa patula) offers fragrant, purplish-blue flowers. In the fall, the Manchurian lilac’s leaves turn reddish-brown. For early-blooming lilacs, Hyacinthiflora lilacs (S. vulgaris x S. oblata) do well in areas where frost seldom occurs in May. The fragrant flowers bloom 7 to 14 days earlier than most other lilacs.

Conditions

Lilac trees grow best with at least six hours of sun per day. They thrive if given protection from strong winds; otherwise, the flower buds may get damaged in high winds, reducing the number of blooms appearing on the tree. Some gardeners use the trees as single specimens. Others use the trees to create hedges planted 18 to 24 inches apart. A layer of mulch helps conserve moisture.

Care

During the months of June and July, lilac trees grow better with an extra inch of water each week since this helps set the flower buds for the following year. Once August arrives, the watering may slow down, since the plant needs to harden off for the winter. New lilac trees require no pruning during the first five years or until they reach 6 to 8 feet tall. After that, the trees benefit from a pruning after the flowers fade.

Pests

Lilac borers cause problems on lilac trees east of the Rocky Mountains. Borers are moths that use lilac trunks and branches to lay their eggs in late spring. One way to avoid borers and other pests involves providing the tree with adequate watering and soil nutrients. This helps reduce stress on the tree, making it less susceptible to pests.

1. Lilacs only flower for about three weeks in the spring.
2. Some varieties, like the Josee or the Boomerang, will bloom several times during the year.
3. Thomas Jefferson loved lilacs — and wrote about them in his gardening book.
4. Lilacs were grown in America's first botanical gardens. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew them in their gardens. Lilac bushes can live for hundreds of years, so who knows, a bush planted way back when may actually still be around.
5. Some varieties of lilac bushes can survive temperatures down to -60°F.
6. Want a big lilac bush? Prune them less often. (But make sure to trim them at least once a year.) You prune Lilacs immediately after the enjoyment of the fragrant blossoms in the late Spring/early Summer.
7. In addition to the cultivated species of Lilacs, there are many more hybrids, and over 1,000 total varieties of Lilac bushes (along with a few varieties of actual trees).
8. Scientific name: Syringa vulgaris (sir-IN-ga vul-GAH-ris)
9. Lilacs belong to the olive family, Oleaceae.
10. Syringa (Lilac) is a genus of about 20 – 25 cultivated species of flowering plants in the olive family (Oleaceae).
11. Syringa is the proper generic name of the Lilac, the common variety being syringa vulgaris.
12. The flowers are edible.
13. In the language of flowers, purple lilacs are the symbol of first love.
14. White lilacs symbolize youthful innocence.
15. In Greece, Lebanon and Cyrus, the lilac is a symbol of Easter
16. The lilac is the state flower of New Hampshire, USA
17. There are annual lilac festivals in North America cities.
18. Aside from Roses, there is no flower as beautiful and aromatic as Lilacs. Of the two, Lilacs have a stronger, more intoxicating scent which carries quite a distance.
19. The term “Lilac tree” can be mistakenly attached to any of the many varieties of Lilac bushes. Lilac shrubs/bushes grow from six to twenty feet tall. True Lilac trees, like the Peking tree Lilac and the Japanese tree Lilac, both from Asia, may reach heights over 30 feet.
20. It is the cultivar and species of Lilac bush which affects the fragrance, NOT the flower’s color.
21. Although Lilacs display flowers among the most delicate of the ornamentals, the plants are among the hardiest.
22. Lilacs make excellent cut flowers. Flowers should be harvested as soon as they start to open. They are often used to add colour, texture and fragrance to arrangements.
23. They are especially popular in hand- tied bridal bouquets.
24. The purple lilacs have the strongest scent compared to other colours.
25. Lilacs are commonly used in soaps, perfumes and other cosmetics.
26. Wood from the lilac tree is among the densest and can be used to make musical instruments, knife handles and more.
27. The lilac is known as the "Queen of Shrubs". Its beauty certainly warrants this title.
28. The name Lilac: comes from the Persian word "lilaq", which means flower.
29. This story is from Greek mythology: It's about a beautiful nymph named Syringa (lilac's botanical name). "Pan", the god of the forests and fields, was captivated by Syringa's beauty. Pan chased Syringa through the forests. Syringa was frightened by Pan's affections. Syringa escaped Pan by turning herself into a lilac bush.
30. Westminster Abbey was decked out with Lilacs and other types of flowering shrubs, such as azaleas, for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April 2011.
31. The most well-known grown Lilac is the pure white ‘Madamde Florent Stepman’, which was named after the wife of the first person to grow it.