Growing Lilac Trees in Your Garden

Flowering trees and shrubs are one of the key elements in garden design, and lilacs, or syringas, are among the most rewarding and easy to grow, rivalling other popular favourites like the buddleia, the flowering cherry. the forsythia, and the ornamental maples. They’re fully hardy in temperate climates, will thrive in any reasonable fertile garden soil, and need little aftercare. Different species and varieties may be grown as a bush, a small tree, a standard or used as hedging. Their adaptability and small size makes them particularly useful in town gardens. Best of all is their spectacular display of flower, a profusion of dense plumes or pannicles of sweetly scented blossom in colours ranging from white and lavender to bold pinks, purples and reds.

Origins

Lilacs occur naturally in south east Europe and Asia, but have been cultivated in western Europe for several centuries and were taken to America by early colonists.

Popular Species and Varieties

Nurseries specialising in syringas produce many different species and varieties, but those listed below should be found in most good garden centres and internet suppliers.

1. Syringa meyeri Palibin. A small slow growing shrub (maximum height and spread 1.2m), with small clusters of lavender pink flower in late spring/early summer. Sometimes trained as a standard.
2. Syringa microphylla Superba. A small bush (maximum height and spread 1.8m) with small erect heads of particularly fragrant rose pink flower in spring. This species may flower again in early autumn.
3. Syringa x persica (Persian lilac). A small shrub (maximum height and spread 1.8m) with a semi arching habit, and abundant erect heads of lilac coloured flowers (or white flowers in the form Syringa x persica “Alba”). These appear in late spring and early summer.
4. Syringa vulgaris (Common Lilac). This is the most widely cultivated variety, grown as a bush or small tree with a maximum height of 3.5m. Popular varieties, all of which produce an abundance of erect pyramids of fragrant blossom, include:

• Souvenir de Louis Spaeth. Deep red.
• Charles Jolly. Deep purple.
• Katherine Havemeyer. Deep purple / lavender.
• Madame Lemoine. Pure white.
• Michel Buchner. Lilac double flowers.
• Mrs Edward Harding. Strong red semi double flowers. Very free flowering.

Cultivation

Although lilacs will do well in any reasonably fertile soil, they will benefit from forking a good dressing of compost and bonemeal into the soil around the roots when planting.

Pot grown plants may be planted at any time of year, but bare rooted plants should only be planted in late autumn.

Once established, lilac plants will grow and flower with little or no attention, but for the best results give them an annual top dressing of bonemeal.

Pruning

Lilacs will do quite well without regular pruning, except for tidying, and tearing (not cutting off) any suckers. However, for the best results, it pays also to prevent common lilac from flowering in the first year after planting. Deadheading, although not really practical on a large bush or tree will also promote more abundant flower in the following season.

Propagation

Propagate with semi-ripe heeled cuttings in mid summer, or graft syringa vulgaris onto a rootstock of privet.