Choosing and Growing
Lilacs
Choose the right lilac for your garden
There are few flowers as beautiful and aromatic as lilacs.
Lilacs, or genus Syringa, have a strong scent that
fills a garden; a scent that leaves no doubt as to the source.
Lilacs bloom for only a brief couple of weeks in the spring.
To prolong their presence in your yard, grow a variety of
lilacs including early, mid, and late bloomers. With the right
plants and a little luck, you may be able to see Lilacs in
bloom in your yard for up to six weeks. Weather has a lot
to do with how long your blooms last. Once the buds begin
to open, pray for a cool dry spell. Once the blooms are over,
you still have a nice shade bush, but you’ll have to
wait for up to fifty more weeks to see the show again.
Lilacs: A brief historical overview
Lilacs in the United States date back to the mid 1750’s.
They were grown in America’s first botanical gardens
and were popular in New England. Both George Washington and
Thomas Jefferson grew them in their gardens. Bushes can live
for hundreds of years, so a bush planted at that time may
still be around. Lilacs originated from Europe and Asia with
a majority of native species coming from Asia. In Europe,
species lilacs came from the Balkans, France, and Turkey.
Lilac varieties
There are over 1, 000 varieties of Lilacs. They come in several
colors, with the most popular being the color lilac and purple.
White and pink are also popular. They also vary widely in
size from the smaller 8-foot varieties to types that can grow
up to 30 feet. So many lilacs, so little time; we will limit
our discussion to varieties commonly found in the Northern
garden.
Syringa laciniata or Cutleaf Lilac
Syringa laciniata or Cutleaf Lilac is starting to be found
more often in the trade. This 6’x 8’ plant was
once thought to be a sport of S. persica. The finely cut leaves
make it an interesting inclusion to any lilac collection and
like Persian lilac it is at it’s best in Zone 7, although
it is certainly Zone 4 hardy.
Syringa Meyeri
Syringa Meyeri, 4’ to 8’ high and half again in
spread ‘Palabin’ is the cultivar of choice. Violet-purple
flowers cover the plant in May, which maintains a small, dense
form (for a lilac). Not as fragrant as the French hybrids,
but very tidy. Zone 3 to Zone 7.
S. patula or Manchurian Lilac
S. patula or Manchurian Lilac is a more upright cousin of
Meyeri reaching 9’ to 10’ at maturity. The usual
cultivar is ‘Miss Kim’, with an icy blue, fragrant
flower from purple buds in May. It lists as 3’ by 3’;
I’ve seen it at 5 and a half feet, and Dirr says the
parent plant is 8’. I believe him. Zone 3 to Zone 8.
S. reticulata or Japanese Tree Lilac
S. reticulata or Japanese Tree Lilac is a different
beast entirely. 20’ to 30’ with a 20’ spread,
this is truly a tree, and yet definetely a lilac. 'Ivory Silk'
is the best cultivar out there, being the most prolific bloomer
and a little more compact (closer to 20’). Foot long
panicles of creamy blooms arrive in June with a scent that
reminds me of privet. Zone 3 to Zone 7.
S. x persica or Persian lilac
S. x persica or Persian lilac is an oldie introduced to the
trade in 1614! Reaching to 5’ and half again as wide,
with fragrant pale lilac flowers in May. This one has been
in the trade so long and nothing like it is found in the wilds
of Persia or anywhere else, so it may be a sterile hybrid…(and
that means they’ve been hybridizing lilacs for around
four hundred years!)
S. x prestoniae
S. x prestoniae is a 6’ to 10’ late blooming hybrid
that is impervious to many of the troubles other lilacs get
into. Look for ‘Miss Canada’ (a bright pink) and
‘Donald Wyman’ (pink to almost red). These bloom
in early June, so Preston Lilacs extend lilac season half
a month. Mildew resistant and impervious to bacterial blight.
Zone 2 to Zone 7.
S. x hyacinthiflora
S. x hyacinthiflora is another great hybrid that deserves
more attention. This 10’ to 12’ rock solid performer
is ready to do its thing on the first of May in Connecticut.
‘Pocahontas’ is the fleur du jour with a prolific
purple bloom with nearly the scent of vulgaris. The dark shiny
leaf sheds water, and therefore mildew, making this a three-way
winner. Zone 3 to 7.
S. vulgar
S. vulgar is Grandma’s lilac, the one that inspired
so many candle fragrances and sachets. With easily 1,000 different
cultivars, the plain old species still remains a tried and
true standby. It has that fine lilac color and the best scent
of any lilac. Most French Hybrids (virtually every named cultivar
is considered a French Hybrid) get to be 12’ to 15’
by 8’ to 12’ and bloom in mid-May. These are the
lilacs that gardeners dream about those last winter nights
before the thaw. The variations in flower colors are every
shade of purple and blue with the occasional white or red
thrown in. Some cultivars of note:
- ‘Charles Joly’ is a wine red double
- ‘'Beauty of Moscow'
 ’ the
clearest white; double
- ‘Katherine Havermeyer’ The best pink hybrid;
double
- ‘Monge’ A single deep puple
- ‘Pres. Grevy’ A double blue
- ‘Primrose’ A single “yellow”
- ‘Royal Purple’ A double that fits the billing
- ‘Sensation’ White edging in every purple
petal; single
Father John Fiala - Lilacs: The Genus Syringa
I would be remiss if I did not mention Father John Fiala (1924-1990)
here; he has done more to shape the lilac scene in the States
then the next ten people combined. He was a parish priest
and professor of psychology to much of the world, but his
book Lilacs: The Genus Syringa and the wonderful
plants he left behind will be what he is remembered for, a
fact that I suspect would not displease him.
If you are serious about lilacs, Lilacs: The Genus Syringa,
is the one book that belongs on your bookshelf.
These are all Zone 3 to 7 plants. Look for:
- ‘Avalanche’ A big strong white
- ‘Marie Frances’ A true pink with wonderful
fragrance
- ‘Albert F. Holden’ Violet with a silvery back
gives this a bi-colored appearance, coupled with great fragrance,
this is my favorite lilac
- ‘Yankee Doodle’ a good deep purple, as is…
- ‘Arch McKean’ another “red”, very
little suckering
- ‘Wedgewood Blue ‘ The color is in the name.
It’s that blue.
And if you need to know more than this, read
his book.
If you are looking for plants for warmer climes, try some
of the Descanso hybrids. These are lilacs for the Zone 8-9
garden. Look for:
- ‘Angel White’ A compact single white, fragrant
- ‘Blue Boy’ It’s blue and so is…
- ‘Blue Skies’ (this may not be a Descanso)
- ‘California Rose’ Rose-pink, fragrant
- ‘Chiffon’ A lavender, like…
- ‘Lavender Lady’ and…
- ‘Mrs. Forrest K. Smith’
- ‘Sylvan Beauty’ More of a lavender-rose
- ‘Dark Knight’ Finally! A deep purple
I like to think there’s a lilac for every garden.
See one you like?
Tree Lilac
The Tree Lilac, Syringa reticulata, 'Ivory Silk' is a heavily flowering
tree, covered by large plumes of small white flowers in the beginning of
summer. It?s dark green leaves blending with it?s fragr...
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Lilac - Common purple
Price: 9.00
Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.
The Common Purple Lilac, Syringa Vulgaris, is well-known and loved by gardeners all over the world for its beauty and fragrance; one of the most powerful fragrances emitted by a plant. This deciduous ...Read More
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Lilac - Korean
Price: 13.00
The Dwarf Korean Lilac, Syringa meyeri
'palibin', is known as a compact but spreading, small-foliaged
Lilac with showy late May lavender-purple
flowers that are spread over the entire shrub canopy...
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Lilac - Miss Canada
Price: 12.45
The Miss Canada Lilac,Syringa x prestoniae, is a spreading, graceful shrub
with arching branches, reaching 6 to 9 feet in height, 5 to 8 feet
spread. Foliage is dark green with a beautiful yellow green...
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Lilac - Persian
Price: 9.60
Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.
The Persian Lilac, Syringa x persica, is a spreading, graceful shrub with
arching branches, reaching 4 to 8 feet in height, 5 to 10 feet
spread. This deciduous shrub has dark green foliage. The pale ...Read
More
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Lilac - White Persian
Price: 9.60
Nature Hills Nursery, Inc. The White Persian Lilac, Syringa x persica 'alba', is a spreading, graceful
shrub with arching branches, reaching 4 to 8 feet in height, 5 to 10 feet
spread. This deciduous shrub has dark green foliag...
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Related Links
- Fairy Dust Lilac
This dainty lilac delights the senses with masses of antique
pink blossoms and irresistible fragrance. It blooms twice
each year, once in late spring and again in late summer.
A dwarf variety that
- Sensation Lilac
An unusual and eye-catching variety, 'Sensation' has deep
purple flowers with a "picotee" edging of pure
white; from a distance the blossoms look silvery. A
delicately scented mid-season bloomer.
- McMaster Centennial Lilac
With flower clusters that can reach 18" long, brilliant
white double blossoms and a delightfully heady fragrance,
'McMaster Centennial' is an exceptionally striking lilac.
- Tinkerbelle– Lilac
In late spring when most other lilacs have finished flowering,
this compact variety is just beginning. Burgundy buds open
to lavender-pink blossoms that scent the air with a delicious
spicy fragrance.
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