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Lilacs
Plant your lilacs in a sunny area with good drainage for beautiful blooms and a healthy plant.
Lilacs are well adapted to our climate and conditions here in New England. They tend to be durable and long-lived. Lilacs thrive in average garden soil, as long as it is well-drained. Lilacs will tolerate a partly shaded area but tend not to bloom well, and are more susceptible to powdery mildew fungus. For this reason we recommend a sunny site with good air circulation. They also perform best in soil with a neutral pH. It is usually beneficial to mix a small amount of dolomitic limestone to the soil when planting them and a light application every year or two after that. Greensand or rock phosphate could also be used in substitution for limestone. Most French lilacs (Syrings vulgaris types) can quickly become a small multi-stemmed tree if they are grown under good conditions. You can realistically maintain a lilac to maturity at about two thirds its normal ultimate size with proper pruning techniques. The best time to prune a lilac is immediately after it has finished blooming. This allows the plant plenty of time to flush-out with new growth and form flower buds for the following spring. Pruning any later than mid-June will not allow the plant enough time for this. There are basically only two potential problems which you might eventually encounter with lilacs:#1- Powdery Mildew fungus � This fungus usually occurs in the middle or later part of the summer. It leaves unsightly whitish colored blotches on the leaves. Though unattractive, it usually does not severely damage the plant. It can be controlled with a good quality fungicide when you first see the symptoms, with reapplications made every 7-10 days. Proper siting can easily alleviate this problem. Full sun and good air circulation are crucial, as is watering during long, hot dry periods in the summer.#2 � Scale � These insects appear as small, sometimes shiny lumps on the stems of the plant. They suck sap through the bark, and in large numbers can severely damage the plant. Dormant oil can be sprayed on the plant while it is still dormant in the spring. Another control method is to spray Diazizon, Cygon or Sevin on the plant three times, at two week intervals starting in early June.Whenever possible, it's always a good idea to bring one or more samples of the plant (in a sealed plastic bag) to one of our garden center experts for analysis.
Syringa x chinensis 'Rothomagensis' � Flowers are soft, lilac-purple, borne in loose panicles 4-6' long. Tends to bloom heavily and reliably. Has a foamy appearance while in bloom, which is in mid season. Habit is broad and round-topped with arching branches. More delicate in leaf and stem than most lilacs. Grows up to 15' tall and wide, but can easily be kept to half that.
Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Mt. Baker' � Creamy buds open to pure white flowers with strong fragrance. Early to mid season blooming. Grows 10-12' tall and wide.
Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' � Dwarf Korean Lilac. Light violet-purple flowers in small, densely packed panicles., Blooms heavily and reliably. Moderate fragrance. Habit is dense, twiggy and tidy with small leaves which give it a finer texture than all other lilacs. Grows to 6'x8' but can easily be kept to half that.
Syringa patula 'Miss kim' � Light purple buds open to pale, icy lavender flowers which fade to nearly white as they age. Blooms heavily and reliably. Fragrance is good. Mid to late season blooming. Habit is dense, rounded and tidy. Grows to 8'x8' but can easily be kept to half that. This is an exceptional plant!
Syringa x persica � The Persian Lilac. Light purple buds open to pale lavender flowers in loose panicles. Fragrance is moderate. Blooms early to mid season. Habit is loose and billowing with small foliage. Tends to spread from suckers. Grows 10-12' tall and wider than that, but can be kept to half the mature size.
Syringa x prestoniae 'Donald Wyman' � Reddish buds open to deep-pink flowers in large pyramidal panicles. Mild fragrance. Blooms 10 days to two weeks later than most lilacs. Habit is course and dense, upright oval to rounded. Grows 10-12' tall and wide.
Syringa x prestoniae 'James McFarland' � Rosy-purple buds open to vibrant, true pink flowers in large pyramidal panicles. Mild fragrance. Blooms 2 weeks later than most lilacs. Grows to 8-10' tall x 6-8' wide.
Syringa x prestoniae 'Minuet' � Deep pink buds open to soft pink flowers in large panicles. Mild fragrance. Blooms 2 weeks later than most lilacs. Habit is dense and rounded. Grows to 7-8' tall and wide but is slower than other Preston hybrids.
Syringa x prestoniae 'Miss Canada' � Reddish buds open to hot-pink flowers. Profuse bloomer with mild fragrance. Blooms very late. Grows 8-9' tall x 5-6' wide and is non-suckering.
Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk' � The Japanese Tree Lilac. Flowers are creamy white and borne in huge panicles in late May or early June. Fragrance is nice from a distance, but can be overpowering up close. Grows into a stiff, oval to rounded small tree. Becomes more graceful with age. Grows to 25' tall and wide.
Syringa vulgaris 'French Lilac' - Lavender buds open to lilac flowers. Strong fragrance. Blooms mid season. Habit is course and leggy, but can be improved with proper pruning and training. Grows into a small, multi-stem tree without maintenance. Can grow 15' x 15', but can be kept at two thirds the mature size.
Syringa vulgaris 'Beauty of Moscow' � Pink buds open to soft pink double flowers. Moderate fragrance. Blooms mid season. Grows 12-15' high and 6-10' wide.
Syringa vulgaris 'Charles Joly' � Purple buds open to softer purple flowers. Good fragrance.
Syringa vulgaris 'Edith Cavell' � Creamy-white buds open to pure white, double flowers. Strong fragrance.
Syringa vulgaris ' Ellen Wilmott' � Also a double white, similar to above.
Syringa vulgaris 'Ludwig Spaeth' � Deep purple buds open to rich purple flowers. Outstanding color. Habit is leggier, and more tree-like than other French lilacs.
Syringa vulgaris 'Monge' � Purple buds open to large light purple flowers. Good fragrance and a strong bloomer. Bushy habit.
Syringa vulgaris 'President Grevy' � Dusky purple buds open to soft, double, lavender-blue flowers.
Syringa vulgaris 'President Lincoln' � Similar to above, but flowers are single.
Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose' � Exciting new color in French lilacs. Light yellow flower buds open to soft, primrose-yellow flowers which fade to creamy white as they age.
Syringa vulgaris 'Sarah Sands' � Purple buds open to soft purple, single flowers.
Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation' - Deep purple buds open to purple flowers with a distinct silvery-white border around the edges of the flower petals. Very unique.
Syringa vulgaris 'Vivian Morel' � Soft purple buds open to soft lilac, double flowers. Good fragrance.