garden |
plantings
Snip sp en t flo w ers
a fte r th e bloom . T h is
is also th e tim e to do
an y n eed ed p ru n in g,
so th a t you don ’t
rem o v e developing
flo w er bu ds.
R eju ven ate old, w eak ,
leggy lilac p lan ts by
trim m in g out w eak ,
d ead , an d o verly large
b ra n ch e s. M ake cu ts
n e a r grou n d level.
Young, v ig o ro u s sh o o ts
w ill ta k e th e ir p lace.
P o w d ery m ildew , th e
m o st com m on d isease
of lilacs, m ay in d icate
p o o r a ir circu la tio n or
lack of su n . To red u ce
m ildew , p lan t lilacs in
full su n .
Sweet Perfume
Their foamy pastel
blooms alone place this plant among our spring favorites.
But it’s their fragrance that really puts them over the edge.
It’s perhaps more evocative than any other floral scent— for
many people, a mere whiff of the flowery perfume revives
memories of springtime family reunions and Easter egg hunts.
Several species of lilac are used in landscapes, but the one
that has enchanted generations of gardeners with its olfactory
delight is the modestly named common lilac,
Syringa vulgaris.
These vigorous, easy-to-grow shrubs often attain 10 feet both
in height and spread, making them useful screening plants as
well as showy bloomers. For small spaces, try varieties such
as ‘Miss Kim’ or Bloomerang— the plants are
smaller, but the fragrance is just as heady.
Lilacs bloom best in full sun and
thrive in cold climates. In fact, without
winter chilling, many refuse to bloom,
creating a challenge in the warmest
regions. In these locations, plant so-called
“low chill” lilacs, such as ‘California
Rose’, ‘Lavender Lady*, or ‘Angel White'.
In fall, large flower buds become
evident as leaves drop, hinting at the
upcoming spring show. If you need to
prune, delay the trimming until after
bloom so that you don't remove
these blossoms-to-be.
S Y R IN G A
varieties | Deciduous shrub
Z O N E S :
3-9 |
W A T E R :
Keep moist
H E IG H T :
Up to 10 feet |
S U N :
Full
6 0
B E T T E R HOMES AND CARDENS |
APRIL 2011 |
BHG.COM
