thrr3ee
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Posts: 22
Joined: Mon May 25, 2009 3:54 pm
Location: US

white lilac question

I moved to this house a little over a year ago and we discovered some white lilacs growing in the back. They bloomed beautifully though small and I was wondering why don't they smell like the purple ones I'm used to do? Is it something that just wasn't bred into this variety? Do other white lilacs smell?

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rainbowgardener
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Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: TN/GA 7b

It seems to depend on the variety:

Some lilacs are more fragrant than others. For example, many white lilacs are only faintly scented. https://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/lilacs-time-for-fresh-look.aspx

Nature Hill advertises these: Lilac - Avalanche, 'Syringa vulgaris 'Avalanche', is showy and freely produces panicles of large, single white fragrant florets on a rounded to upright plant of 9 feet.

Hulda Klager Lilac gardens advertises Madame Lemoine Snow white, double blossoms. Very fragrant.

So there can be fragrant whites, but apparently some aren't. Too bad, it's certainly part of the joy of lilacs...

WinglessAngel
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Posts: 381
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:51 pm
Location: NE Ohio

Ive actually collected a bunch of seeds last year from some wild white lilac trees that had bloomed in town and they are especially fragrant and beautiful...I'm starting trees from seed with them this year and so far got one to grow, I'm trying again on reseeding but they are Very fragrant ones, so it could just be yours is slightly different is all :)



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