Missouri Lilacs are native to Missouri and they are also known by many names including American lily-of-the-valley, sweet woodruff, and wild bergamot. These plants grow into small trees that produce white or pale pink blossoms. White lilacs are native to North America and are often used as hedges.
Full Answer
How fast do Lilacs grow in a year?
And the bark of this shrub is gray to grayish brown. The best time to plant lilac bushes is in the early fall before the ground freezes. They have a moderate growth rate of 1 to 2 feet per year. Common lilac bushes are attractive enough to be treated as specimen plants, grown as focal points in the landscape.
Is lilac a shrub or tree?
Common lilac bushes ( Syringa vulgaris) are deciduous shrubs that bloom in the late spring. They are part of the olive family, along with other such ornamental plants as ash trees, forsythia bushes, and privet shrubs.
When is the best time to plant lilacs?
The best time to plant lilac bushes is in the early fall before the ground freezes. They have a moderate growth rate of 1 to 2 feet per year. Common lilac bushes are attractive enough to be treated as specimen plants, grown as focal points in the landscape.
Where do lilacs bloom in Des Moines?
The island celebrates its blooms with a 10-day festival each June. Ste. Anne's churchyard and Marquette Park are prime scent spots. 2 Des Moines More than 300 lilac varieties burst in the Ewing Park Lilac Arboretum.
What zone does lilac grow in?
zones 3-8LILAC BASICS Most lilacs are hardy in zones 3-8; however, there are varieties cold hardy to zone 2, like Scentara® Double Blue (S. hyacinthiflora). There are also varieties, like 'Lavender Lady' (S. vulgaris) that are heat tolerant to zone 9 and don't require a winter chill.
Where do lilacs grow best?
full sunWhere to Plant Lilacs. The ideal spot to plant lilacs is in an area with full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours per day)—give them too much shade and they may not bloom. Lilacs also like slightly alkaline, moist, well-drained soil.
What climate is best for lilacs?
The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3A through 7A. If you live in an area where winter temperatures do not get cold, you may think you can't grow lilacs.
Do lilacs like sun or shade?
full sunLilacs grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. Lilacs grown in partial sun or shade will not flower well. The shrubs may take three to four years to establish themselves in a new site, but once established they can live for centuries. Soil pH (alkalinity or acidity of the soil) may affect the plant's growth.
Are lilacs poisonous to dogs?
Are Lilacs Poisonous to Dogs? Lilacs do not contain any chemicals that will poison animals or humans, nor do they irritate the skin. Even though lilac stems, leaves, and flowers pose no health threat to dogs, it is a good idea to keep your dog from chewing on the plant.
Are lilacs easy to grow?
Lilacs are easy to grow. Grow in moist but well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Prune after flowering to prevent them getting leggy. Mulch annually in spring.
How long does it take a lilac bush to grow?
Newly planted lilacs usually do not need pruning for 2 to 3 years and it will take 1 or 2 years before a lilac blooms. Years later, lilac stems can grow very large and tree-like and they will tend to shade out new growth at the plant base.
How cold can lilacs tolerate?
Lilacs are hardy shrubs, meaning that they need very little care to survive. They can withstand temperatures of -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 C) but may need some protection from icy winds that damage the flower buds. To help flower production, lilacs need cold winters to help set next season's blooms.
Do deer eat lilacs?
Even though lilacs are labeled as deer resistant, they can be vulnerable during the first few weeks after planting. Even if your plant has been snacked on, as long as the root system is not damaged, the shrub should survive. You can cut a lilac plant almost to the ground and it will recover and flourish.
Do lilacs need lots of water?
Watering your lilac plant is recommended once every 10 to 14 days from from spring until blooming ends. Lilacs respond best to deep, infrequent watering. Make sure that your planting area or container drains well. These plants do not like wet feet and will not bloom if over watered.
What is the best time of year to plant a lilac bush?
Spring or fall is the best time for planting lilac bushes. Situate the lilac with its roots spread vertically in the ground and make the hole both deep and wide enough to accommodate them. If planting more than one lilac bush, space them at least 5 feet (1.5 m.)
Do lilacs spread?
Lilacs have a special method of seed dispersal known as ballistichory, or ballistic dispersal, in which the seed pods spring open suddenly to fling the seeds in a wide radius around the plant.
Do lilacs need a lot of water?
Lilacs respond best to deep, infrequent watering. Make sure that your planting area or container drains well. These plants do not like wet feet and will not bloom if over watered. Too much water can diminish the oxygen in the soil by filling in air pockets with water, which chokes the roots of the lilac.
What is the best month to plant lilacs?
The best time to plant lilacs is in the fall after the leaves have dropped, but before the ground freezes. You can plant lilacs in the spring before the buds start to unfold. Spring periods are very short, however, and transplanting at this time is recommended only in areas where winters are very severe.
Where do lilacs grow naturally?
Lilacs are native to eastern Europe and temperate Asia, and several are widely cultivated.
Do lilac bushes spread?
Lilacs have a special method of seed dispersal known as ballistichory, or ballistic dispersal, in which the seed pods spring open suddenly to fling the seeds in a wide radius around the plant.
What is a Japanese lilac tree?
Syringa reticulata, commonly called Japanese tree lilac, typically grows as a small tree or large shrub. In tree form, it grows to 30’ tall and 20’ wide with an oval-rounded crown. Its best ornamental feature is its showy, fragrant, creamy white flowers which bloom in upright panicles to 12” long in late spring to early summer (later than most other lilac species). Some gardeners dislike the privet-like smell of the flowers. Flowers give way to loose clusters of brown capsules that persist into winter. Reddish-brown peeling bark is attractive on younger branches, gradually turning gray with age. Sharply-tipped, lanceolate to ovate, dark green leaves (to 6” long). No fall color.
Is lilac a good insect?
No serious insect or disease problems. It reportedly has good resistance to some of the major pests of lilacs, such as powdery mildew, scale and borers. It has some susceptibility to additional diseases including blights, leaf spots, wilt and ring spot virus. Additional insect pests of note include caterpillars and leaf miner. Flower buds are susceptible to frost injury in early spring.
How big do lilacs grow?
3 Size Groups l Petite lilacs, with names like Dwarf Manchurian and Korean, top out between 4 and 6 feet. Medium growers like Persian, Chinese and European lilac reach 12 to 14 feet. Tall plants, such as the Japanese Tree Lilac, can grow to 30 feet or more.
Where to smell lilacs in Michigan?
1 Mackinac Island, Michigan Lilac groves and canopies cover this cottage-dotted, car-free retreat. The island celebrates its blooms with a 10-day festival each June. Ste. Anne's churchyard and Marquette Park are prime scent spots.
What colors do lilacs bloom?
7 Colors l Lilacs bloom in a range of hues: purple, lavender, white, violet, magenta, pink and blue.
How much sun does a lilac need?
6 Hours That's the minimum daily amount of sunlight that lilacs need in order to bloom. Full sun is best.
Is lilac a floral scent?
Certainly, nothing's common about the scent of the common lilac, its heady perfume perhaps more evocative than any other floral scent. One whiff, and you're tramping damp grass at a spring festival. Another, and you're lolling on a cool, comfy porch, the surrounding landscape radiant with rising green. It smells of sunshine and optimism and home.
Do lilacs live forever?
Besides needing a solid stretch of cold to encourage their blooms in spring, they aren't greedy or fussy, and they live pretty much forever. So once you get them into the ground, just sit back and let the purple reign. Lilac varieties.
What type of soil do lilacs like?
Lilacs thrive in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil (at a pH near 7.0). If your soil is in poor condition, add compost to enrich. Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.
What is the best zone for lilacs?
Although common lilacs love cold weather, a few thrive as south as Zone 9 , among them the cutleaf lilac, a fragrant pale lavender. Syringa patula 'Miss Kim' is a graceful shrub with pale lilac-blue flowers that fade to white.
How long does it take for a lilac to grow back?
It sounds drastic, but lilacs are very hardy. The downside to this option is that it takes a few years to grow back. The upside is less work and more reward, as the lilac will grow back bursting with blooms. It must be recognized that severe pruning results in the loss of blooms for one to three years.
How much sun do lilacs need?
For strong bloom, lilacs require full sun —at least 6 hours—or they will not flower well. Make sure the site drains well. Lilacs don’t like wet feet and will not bloom with too much water. Plant in either spring or fall, although the latter is preferred.
Do lilacs like wet feet?
Lilacs don’t like wet feet and will not bloom with too much water. Plant in either spring or fall, although the latter is preferred. If you’re lucky, a friend will give you a sucker, or offshoot, of the root system of one of their plants.
What is the first lilac to bloom?
The pink S. hyacinthiflora 'Fenelon' lilac (left) is among the first to bloom. Because it may be difficult to find, look for S. hyacinthiflora 'Maiden's Blush' or S. vulgaris 'Edward J. Gardner', two other great early-blooming pinks. Hyacinthiflora types also provide good fall leaf color.
What are the colors of lilacs?
With just a little care, this easy shrub provides generations of bouquets. Flower clusters, studded with tiny florets, burst with fresh-blown hues that can defy the seven official color classifications of lilacs: white, violet, blue, lilac, pink, magenta and purple.
How to keep lilacs fresh?
Cut lilacs stay fresh only a few days. For the best bouquets, cut in the early morning. Use a pruner; the branches don't snap off easily. Make crisscross cuts at the bottom of each branch, but don't crush the stem. Having more surface area allows the stem to take up more water.
How long do lilacs bloom in the winter?
In sync with the Midwest. Lilacs are perfectly in sync with our Midwest winters. Most varieties need a cold dormancy period of at least 850 hours (about 35 days) at temperatures below 45 degrees to flower. Each species and variety has its own bloom season (classified as early, mid and late).
How much sun does a lilac need?
All lilacs are easy to grow if placed in well-drained soils where they'll receive at least six hours of sun a day . Once established, lilacs can thrive even in hot, dry, windy places.
How tall does a lilac get?
Popular lilacs. We're most familiar with the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, which grows 8 to 20 feet tall. But the genus Syringa embraces 22 other species, including Syringa reticulata, the Japanese tree lilac, which grows to 30 feet, and S. meyeri 'Palibin', a dwarf Chinese shrub reaching 4 to 5 feet.
How long does it take for a lilac bush to bloom?
See whether yours gets at least six hours of full sun per day. If not, move it or plant a new one (which can take up to three years to flower).
What kind of soil do lilacs like?
Lilac bushes prefer a rich, loamy soil with sharp drainage and a neutral soil pH. They can tolerate clay soil, though it might stunt their growth.
When do lilacs bloom?
Common lilac bushes ( Syringa vulgaris) are deciduous shrubs that bloom in the late spring. They are part of the olive family, along with other such ornamental plants as ash trees, forsythia bushes, and privet shrubs. The outstanding quality of many lilac varieties is the sweet fragrances of their flowers. The blooms appear in the mid- ...
What causes lilacs to turn powdery?
Lilacs are fairly hardy shrubs and can survive most pest and disease problems. However, they are susceptible to several. The fungal disease powdery mildew is commonly seen on lilacs, especially during humid summers. It creates whitish powdery patches on the foliage. There are both chemical fungicides and natural methods for combatting powdery mildew. The disease usually won’t be fatal, but you should still treat your lilac as soon as possible to limit its spread. Common pests that can affect lilacs and damage their foliage include scales and borers. If you spot these tiny insects on the stems and undersides of leaves, treat your plant with neem oil or another insecticide.
What are the different types of lilacs?
There are several types of lilac bushes that vary somewhat in appearance, including: 1 'Wedgewood Blue': This compact lilac variety attains a height at maturity of only 6 feet with a spread equal to that. The flowers are contained in thick clusters of lavender blue. It thrives in zones 3 through 8. 2 'Yankee Doodle': A small lilac bush with deep purple, fragrant blooms, Yankee Doodle is a bit more cold-hardy than the main species, suitable for zones 2 through 8. It grows 6 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide. 3 'Belle de Nancy': This variety has double pink flowers (multiple layers of petals) and grows 8 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. It blooms in late spring to early summer and is suitable for zones 3 through 9. 4 'Madame Lemoine': Blooming with bright white double flowers, this lilac variety stands tall at up to 15 feet high and 12 feet wide. It is suitable for zones 3 through 8. 5 'Primrose': Primrose is a standard-size lilac that grows 10 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. It is notable for its yellow flowers that still deliver the beloved sweet lilac fragrance. It is suitable for zones 3 through 7.
How much sun do lilacs need?
Grow lilac bushes in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. Lilacs will tolerate some shade, but too little light can limit their bloom. They do not do well in full shade.
How tall do lilac bushes get?
There are several types of lilac bushes that vary somewhat in appearance, including: 'Wedgewood Blue': This compact lilac variety attains a height at maturity of only 6 feet with a spread equal to that. The flowers are contained in thick clusters of lavender blue. It thrives in zones 3 through 8.
How big does a primrose lilac get?
It is suitable for zones 3 through 8. 'Primrose': Primrose is a standard-size lilac that grows 10 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. It is notable for its yellow flowers that still deliver the beloved sweet lilac fragrance. It is suitable for zones 3 through 7.
What does a lower pH do to a lilac plant?
The lower pH also helps unlock nutrients that are bound in the soil and not available to the plant at higher pH above 7.0. You may have better luck with the Bloomerang reblooming lilacs, as they do much better in clay and actually thrive in it here if you keep it watered regularly.
Do lilacs like wet feet?
Lilacs do not like wet feet, particularly in winter, so if you have heavy soil, its best to find a spot which slopes a little and plant the lilacs above the bottom of the slope, so that water can drain down away from the lilac roots.
