Abundant flowering and a beautiful aroma in the garden makecommon lilaca popular and willingly cultivated shrub. In addition to the native species, there are also interesting gardenvarieties of common lilac , whose fragrant flowers delight in color and shape. See whatlilac carelooks like and whether it is possible toreproduce lilacin garden conditions. Here are the secrets of growing lilac and its beautiful flowers!
Common lilac
Common lilac(Syringa vulgaris), commonly known as lilac, is one of the favorite shrubs that bloom in our gardens in May.It can be planted singly or in groups, sometimes as an informal hedge. It can grow up to 7 m. It grows through numerous stolons. Its leaves are thick, broadly ovate, up to 12 cm long, dark green in color. Lilac flowers have an intense fragrance and are gathered in 20 cm long, multi-flower panicles. The inflorescences are also suitable for cut flowers.
Common lilac - varieties
In addition to the basic species, there are also numerouslilac varietieswith single or semi-double flowers. They differ from them not only in shape, but also in color and color of the leaves. You can meet white, pink, blue or dark purple inflorescences. The huge number ofcommon lilac varietiesallows you to find a place for lilac in almost every garden. Here are the most interesting varieties available:
Common Lilac 'Aucubaefolia'- is a variety with decorative, variegated leaves and 30 cm long pale pink inflorescences. It grows up to 3 m high, creating dense thickets.
Common lilac 'Andenken an Ludwig Späth'- is a variety with single dark purple flowers and a strong fragrance. This lilac reaches 4 m in height and forms dense thickets.
Common lilac 'Excellent'- late-flowering lilac variety with erect habit. It has single, large, white flowers with clearly marked yellow stamens.
Common lilac 'Madame Lemoine'- is one of the most valuable varieties of common lilac growing up to 4 m in height. It has large, full, pure white flowers, appearing on the bush quite late.
Common Lilac 'Katherine Havemeyer'- is a very attractive variety due to its full, large flowers. Pink-lilac in buds, pearly pink when unfolded, with starry petals open.
Lilac 'Michael Buchner'- This very decorative variety of the common lilac is characterized by single purple flowers with a lilac shade. Blooms profusely, changing its color to ever brighter when it fades.
Common lilac 'Sensation'- this is a variety with very original, single, two-color purple flowers with a white edge. Perfect for small gardens.
Lilac 'Sensation'
Common lilac - care
Lilac careis not very absorbing. Common lilac adapts to various soil conditions. It prefers moderately dry to fresh, well-drained, sandy to loamy soil. Lilac will grow best in neutral or alkaline soil. It tolerates drought well.Common lilaclikes a sunny to slightly shady position. It is a species extremely resistant to heat and wind, it is ideal for urban conditions.
Fertilization in spring with compost will have a positive effect on the blooming of lilacs. Common lilac is also cut well. It is worth pruning the bush after flowering, this way it will thicken.Cutting faded inflorescences will prevent seeds from forming, thanks to which the bush will bloom profusely in the following year. The only drawback inlilac careis the need to cut wild shoots in grafted varieties.
Common lilac - reproduction
The lilac propagationis performed by semi-woody cuttings collected in late summer, while the lilac cultivars in nurseries are propagated in summer by budding. The first method is simple and feasible in the conditions of amateur gardening, and the method of acquiring new shrubs is quite economical.
When propagating the common lilaccut off the seedling from the semi-woody apical shoot . It should be approx. 20 cm. The cut is best done directly under the eyelet, because it is at this level that after the scar tissue has formed, the roots will appear. The base of the cuttings should be inserted into the rooting.Then plant in sand mixed with peat in the inspection at 15-18 ° C. It is worth covering the seedlings with foil. In autumn, transplant into 10 cm pots filled with humus soil and leave for the winter in an inspection room at 5 ° C.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
