Which lilac bush smells the best?
Which lilac is most fragrant? All smell wonderful but we think ‘Palibin’, ‘Josee’ and ‘Beauty of Moscow’ are particularly fragrant. Lilacs have broad oval leaves with extremely fragrant blossoms in spring. Lilacs are hardy shrubs that can be used as a windbreak or informal hedge when planted 3-4′ apart. Average lifespan is 100 years.Lilacs perform best in well-drained soils in full sun. Plants should receive at least six hours of direct sun each day. Lilacs planted in partial shade will not bloom well. Good care during the first two or three years is also important.These beautifully scented shrubs are SO easy to grow! Lilacs are among the most carefree of all shrubs, and grow well in zones 3-7. Their needs are simple: plenty of sunlight, good drainage, and fertile soil. In return, you’ll be rewarded with beautifully scented lavender, pink, or white blooms.Yes, lilacs are deciduous shrubs so will flower every year in early summer. In autumn, lilacs lose their leaves and will produce new foliage the following spring.Lilac attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. The nectar of the flowers is food for long-tongued bees, butterflies, and possibly moths. The caterpillars of several moths feed on the foliage.
What not to plant near lilacs?
Lilacs do not grow well when planted in acidic soils with rhododendrons, azaleas, blueberries, and many conifer evergreens. Lilacs cannot access all the micronutrients they need in alkaline soils, limiting their growth and overall health over time. Since we are looking for blooms from our lilacs, we want to encourage blooms versus leafy growth over time. Also, once we plant small lilac babies, it can be 3–4 years before we are really able to harvest off a bush.Lilac flowers last for about two weeks once they bloom. However, the plants themselves are quite long-lived, with some lilac shrubs living for over 100 years. Regular pruning helps extend the lifespan and improve the health of these plants.Supply Lilacs with full sun (at least six hours of sunshine a day) to be treated to the most astonishing display of aromatic blooms. Look for a planting site in a sunny spot that has plenty of good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew. Well-drained soil is important to keep them happy and healthy.A good rule of thumb when pruning back a neglected lilac is to only remove one third of the older stems a season. By only removing a third, this gives your lilac a chance to bounce back without much stress. A good pair of gloves and sharp pruners are all that is needed to maintain your lilac.
What is the best month to plant lilacs?
Lilacs also like slightly alkaline, moist, well-drained soil. The best time to plant lilacs is in late fall before the ground freezes. The next best time to plant is in early spring after the ground thaws. Though lilacs are very cold tolerant, they do not do well in hot areas. Even if the plant itself survives, it will bloom little if at all, because the plant needs exposure to cold temperatures, called “chilling,” in order to develop its flower buds.If left to grow and spread on their own, lilac bushes will eventually only flower at the tips of their uppermost branches. Once a lilac bush is over two years old, it requires annual pruning. Removing dead, diseased, broken and weak stems helps rejuvenate the shrub and make it more visually appealing.Fertilize in spring with a general-purpose organic or conventional fertilizer, and thin overhead tree branches to ensure plenty of sunlight — a key factor for healthy lilac blooms. To keep lilacs looking their best, prune, fertilize and shape them almost every year — soon after they finish blooming in late spring.Explore Our Collection of Lilac Bushes for Sale Explore the vibrant selection of lilacs available from Gurney’s, perfect for enhancing any garden space. Choose from a variety of colors and sizes, each carefully bred to thrive and provide beautiful blooms year after year.
What is the rarest lilac?
The only yellow lilac you’ll find. Ultra-rare and oh, so pretty, Primrose Lilac is covered in massive 8–10 trusses of flowers in late spring, their sweet fragrance permeating the entire area. The blooms emerge a soft, creamy yellow colour, and turn a slightly darker shade with age. Unlike the more common lilac bush, lilac trees grow taller and can make a striking statement piece in any landscape. Their blooms, ranging from deep purples to light pinks and whites, are not only beautiful but also attract pollinators like butterflies and bees, adding life and activity to your garden.Lilac is a light shade of purple representing the average color of most lilac flowers. The colors of some lilac flowers may be equivalent to the colors shown below as pale lilac, rich lilac, or deep lilac. However, there are other lilac flowers that are colored red-violet.Lilac trees should be fertilized when planted with a balanced tree fertilizer. After the 2nd or 3rd year, you can use an NPK ratio 10-10-10 once a year in the springtime. Bonemeal and fireplace ash over the root area will keep the alkalinity of the soil balanced and help blooming in the spring.Yearly pruning keeps lilacs under control If it’s a healthy shoot but just too tall, tip it off by cutting it back to a pair of side shoots at the desired height.Lilacs 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.
How many years does it take for a lilac bush to bloom?
Renewal pruning: Renewal pruning allows more light throughout an older plant and encourages new stems to grow and flower. 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. You can keep your lilac shrubs healthy with the help of a good pruning tool. Prune lilacs for the first time when they are head-high. The best time of year to prune is right after the lilac flowers.Lilac is a tough shrub that requires minimal pruning, is incredibly low maintenance, and is great for beginner gardeners. As long as lilac is planted in an area with plenty of sun and well-drained soil, this shrub should wow in the landscape for many years, with some lilac shrubs lasting up to 100 years.Lilacs Winter Care Tips Give your lilac a good watering to ensure the shrub is hydrated before winter starts. Use 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch around the base of your lilac to prevent winter heave, the exposure of roots due to the ground freezing and thawing. Deadhead and prune the plant in late spring.On average, a standard lilac shrub size ranges from 8 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 12 feet wide. These plants can take several years to reach their full size, with the growth rate usually being moderate, about 1 to 2 feet per year under ideal conditions.Lilacs bloom on the previous season’s growth and develop next year’s buds shortly after blooming in the spring. Pruning needs to be done at the same time that the spent flowers are removed within a couple of weeks after the plant blooms so that next year’s buds are not removed.
Is lilac more pink or blue?
Lilac and lavender are two different colors. They are both pale shades of purple but lilac has a pink tint to it, while lavender has a blue tint. One of the best things about lilacs is their intoxicating scent. Their sweet fragrance wafts through the air, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden. Not only will you enjoy the visual beauty of lilacs, but you’ll also be contributing to the health of your local ecosystem.What color goes with lilac? Lilac is a gentle, versatile color. For a bright palette, you could contrast it with colors like orange, yellow, olive green and gray. But it also looks great with analogous shades of purple, or alongside a soft pink.The Persian lilac is much more delicate and heat resistant than the common lilac, with a lighter fragrance and smaller flowers.As a May and early June cut flower, lilac is invaluable to pick for a good-sized vase inside. I know the old wives’ tale that makes people reluctant to bring lilac into the house – it’s said to bring bad luck – but most of us can get beyond such superstition. With it, you can fill a room with that soft, sweet perfume.