Shrub-Lilac

[Mamu]

Lilac-Everyone loves lilacs, there is nothing that compares to the fragrance in your yard when lilacs are in bloom. There are many varieties of lilacs, some are dwarf, some grow very tall. Lilac bushes range in heights of 5-13 feet. Even in small yards you can have a lilac bush.

They like ordinary soil, will even grow in alkaline conditions. Lilacs like sun, if planted in shady areas they grow very well but will not flower. There are single and double flowering varieties. They come in several colors, not just purple and white. There are pinks, lavenders, magentas, whites, purples, blues and even a yellow (I have never seen the yellow). My quest is to purchase a blue lilac bush this year.

To get the most blooms from lilacs there are a few things that will ensure your lilacs are beautiful year after year. Always dig out suckers they exhaust the soil at the base of the plant. Dead-head the faded flowers, taking care not to damage the new shoots. Every third season prune more severely, this will encourage new branches from near the ground level. If you follow these 3 tips you will always have full, beautiful bushes covered in blooms.



Lilacs

 

[NHMickey]

I have a few of these and they get partial sun... Can I move these at this time of year? They don't bloom where they are.

 

[DixieDreamer]

Nat - depending on how big they are - I think you can safely move these in early spring... before they begin leafing out. If it is a giant old tree of a lilac - you probably will not be successful in moving them. Lilacs are very hardy though and if you keep the roots all intact - they should flourish in a new "sunnier" location.

My lilacs are just now getting ready to bloom. It will be next week when they put on their show. I have two dwarf varieties growing side by side. Here is a picture of the lilacs in my yard from last year.

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mmmmm.... I can almost smell that delicious aroma. Love these plants.

 

[NHMickey]

They have just started to leaf...

 

[amid chaos]

I loooove lilacs....and I like to ..oh never mind.

 

[Snowwark]

Ahhhh......lilacs....heavenly!

Careful Amid, if your aim is off, the branch could leave a nasty scar...........

Thank you Mamu!

 

[Lanshark]

Lilacs are my favorite flower. Being from the midwest I enjoyed them throughout my childhood. When I moved to the south I was very disappointed when I found out they didn't grow here because the winters do not get cold enough. Well, after 20 years in the south I finally found a variety that is fast growing and is meant for southern climates. I planted them last year and they've grown at least a foot and a half. I can't wait until they bloom.

 

[Yay2001]

What a coincidence!

I impulsively purchased a lilac shrub earlier this month -- and stupidly lost the "variety" tag.
After looking it up on the site Mamu posted, I see it is a syringia vulgaris -- and it is likely to get more than 10 ft tall -- wow!

This shrub/tree was budding when I purchased it -- but alas the buds fell off without ever fully flowering -- hope to have better luck next spring!

Looooovvvveeee lilacs!

 

[marlasmom]

I finally have ONE bloom on the lilac we planted about 10 years ago. It gets a lot of shade. Another one that was in the garden when we bought the house has never bloomed. A third I bought last year has leaves on only 3 branches. I lime them, feed them, beg them - nothing seems to work. When we lived in a town 50 miles north of here we had a whole hedge about 200 feet of lilacs. The scent was heavenly. HELP if you can. Thanks.

 

[amid chaos]

marlasmom....sorry, i can't help you...i have 5 lilacs and only one is blooming...sure wish i could figure out the secret.

 

[Mamu]

I can only offer you a web site that maybe will help.

Why Lilacs do not Bloom

After reading this article I learned that lilacs need phosphates. Get that bonemeal dig into the soil of those lilac bushes that do not bloom and hopefully next year everyones lilacs will be blooming.

 

[kathymc]

Lilacs have always been my favorite and they bring back happy childhood memories. I trid to plant one last year (from my moms plant) but that never took root and died - so I just planted one last night! Wish me luck!

 

[Wishydoo]

oooops...if I had seen this first, I wouldn't have started a new thread about my lilacs! sorry.

great info here, thanks!

 

[Mamu]

Just returned home

with excitement. Purchased a President Lincoln Lilac. Web site says a true blue.

I plan to add some super phosphate when I plant it and hopefully in two years I'll see a blue bloom. A mixture of dried blood, bonemeal, wood ash and compost.