Syringa

The hardy, deciduous trees and shrubs belonging to this very popular group are commonly known as Lilacs. They are gorgeous, woody plants that produce clusters of extremely fragrant blossoms in an array of colors. Their heart-shaped leaves are arranged opposite each other on the branches. Lilacs are originally from southeastern Europe and Asia. The wood of the Lilacs is close-grained, hard and yellowish-colored marked with reddish and brown. S. amurensis japonica (Japanese Tree Lilac) is a tree that grows from 20 to 30 feet high. The 3- to 6-inch leaves sometimes turn light yellow in the fall, but often drop without changing. In mid-summer, huge, thick clusters, sometimes reaching a foot in length, of white flowers are produced. This tree makes a gorgeous lawn ornament and also grows well along streets. S. vulgaris, the common or French Lilac, is a large, suckering shrub or small tree that can grow up to 20 feet high. Its compact, erect panicles of flowers open in late spring. This species has been the parent of many hybrids that are medium-sized trees to large shrubs that bloom in late spring and early summer. The colors of the single or double flowers range from white and creamy yellow to red, blue, and purple. S. hyacinthiflora 'Esther Staley' is a large shrub with red buds that open to single pink blossoms in late spring. S. persica Elinor has erect panicles of dark purplish red buds that open to light lavender flowers. Some hybrids of S. vulgaris include S. vulgaris 'Congo'; this plant bears large, compact panicles of dark lilac-red blossoms that pale as they age. S. vulgaris 'Firmament' has pure lavender-blue flowers. S. vulgaris 'Sensation' has large panicles of purplish-red flowers edged with white, however it tends to revert and lose its variegation. S. vulgaris 'Mme. Lemoine' has yellowish buds opening to pure snow white flowers. There are many more varieties, some of which will be mentioned below in the varieties section.

Pot Cultivation

Lilacs can be grown in most well-drained soil, especially one that is alkaline, as long as it doesn't collect water in the spring. It is beneficial to add peat moss or leaf mold. They should be in a location receiving full sun where the air circulates freely. If the soil is shallow or poor, Lilacs will benefit from mulching with decayed manure or rich compost and feeding with liquid fertilizer in May or June. Pruning consists of removing the dead flowerheads and pinching the excessively long shoots during the summer. It is wise to thin crowded branches (by cutting at the base of the branch) in order to prevent mildew from growing. Suckers and weak shoots should also be removed at the base. It is wrong to simply shear the top of the bush/tree. However, extremely overgrown plants may be pruned back in early spring to within a foot of the ground. Following this severe pruning, they should be fertilized and kept well watered during dry weather. They should begin blooming again in two or three years.

Propagation

Lilacs may be increased by seeds, cuttings or layering. The species or wild types can be increased by sowing seeds in light soil in a greenhouse or frame, as soon as they are ripe or the following spring. Cuttings of hybrids or varieties, which don't come true from seed, may be made from 3- to 4-inch, leafy shoots. These are inserted in sandy in a cold frame. Cuttings, 9 inches long, may be made from ripened wood in late fall or winter. These are buried in sand in a cold frame during the winter and planted in nursery rows in the garden, in spring. The best means of propagation for hybrids or named varieties, however, is layering. When only a few plants are required, the lower branches of the plant may be layered; if many are needed, it is better to keep plants in a nursery bed specifically for providing layers.

S. laciniata

VARIETIES

• S. vulgaris (Common or French Lilac) & var. (w/ single flowers) Congo, Firmament, Massena, Maud Notcutt, Primrose, Sarah Sands, Sensation, Slater's Elegance, Vestale, (w/ double flowers) Charles Joly, Katherine Havemeyer, Krasavitsa Moskvy, Michel Buchner, Mme. Antoine Buchner, Mme. Lemoine, Mrs. Edward Harding, Paul Thirion, President Grevy.
• S. chinensis 'Saugeana';
• S. hyacinthiflora 'Esther Staley';
• S. josiflexa 'Bellicent';
• S. julianae;
• S. laciniata;
• S. meyeri 'Palibin';
• S. microphylla 'Superba';
• S. patula 'Miss Kim';
• S. persica & var. alba;
• S. prestoniae & var. Donald Wyman, Elinor, Isabella, James McFarlane; S. reticulata & var. Ivory Silk;
• S. sweginzowii Superba;
• S. yunnanensis Rosea.