Hello there, I’m Josie, and I am studying the Lilac Bush. Although this page is supposed to be on a wild, native species of plant, but I love Lilacs, so I promised Mr. O that this would be a spectacular blog! I plan to fulfill this obligation.
The Lilac bush (Syringa vulgaris) is one of the most beautiful deciduous shrubs. The blooms of this shrub produce a fragrant aroma that soothes the senses of many. Personally, I think Lilacs smell better than any brand name perfume. Not only are the blooms fragrant, but they are also beautiful, symbolizing Spring here in Washington. Local parades are even named after this shrub. There are actually many subspecies of Lilacs, but, for the purpose of this blog, I am studying all breeds and varieties in general.
The genus, Syringa, holds over 25 species and over 1000 hybrids! This is due to the increased demand for more fragrant and beautiful flowers. Lilacs are bred for longevity. It is quite possible that the shrub will outlive the person who originally planted them. The shrub can live for many years, and scientist are still trying to determine the actual lifespan of these organisms. When the shrubs mature over time, they get so big that they can be mistaken for trees, but do not make this mistake, there is no such thing as a Lilac tree.
Lilac Shrubs originally came from Europe, but they are now widely cultivated in the United States. In fact, Lilacs grow wild here and flourish. Even on my driveway, there are dozens of lilac bushes that have germinated and spread all because one was planted at sometime, long, long ago.
The gentle scent of a lilac is not only beautiful, but the nectar that produces this smell is a great food source for many organisms, from insects to birds. Some species that I see feeding on the lilac nectar include humming birds, honey bees, bumble bees, butterflies, etc. The leaves of a lilac bush are edible as well, I commonly see whitetail deer nibbling on them, but lilacs are not edible to humans.
Unfortunately, the blooms only last for two weeks. Lilacs grow very well in sunny areas with good air circulation. Even though this plant prefers sunny climates, it can withstand weather up to -40 degrees F. It is best however to avoid this type of weather because it may kill your lilac buds. Lilac’s today are divided into seven standard color groups:white, violet, blue, lavender, pink, magenta and purple. These flower’s show their intense colors when a cool, damp spring comes. The “unfolding of the color” is what makes lilacs such an enjoyable flower. This is when the buds bloom and show the real color of the flower. From the start of the coloring of the bud, to the fading color of the open flower, it takes approximately 16-20 days for it’s blooming period
Here is a list of commonly grown lilacs. Notice the genus name, Syringa.
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Syringa emodi – Himalayan Lilac
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Syringa komarowii (syn. S. reflexa)
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Syringa laciniata – Cut-leaf Lilac
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Syringa persica L. Persian Lilac
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Syringa pubescens (syn. S. julianae, S. patula)
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Syringa reticulata (syn. S. pekinensis) – Japanese Tree Lilac
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Syringa vulgaris – Common Lilac
- Syringa yunnanensis – Yunnan Lilac
This is a really good looking blog Josie, but i am a little confused on the list of pure breeds. Maybe you should consider explaining a few of those pure breeds so people can get a better picture in their mind. Other than that this is great looking blog and the pictures really grabbed my attention! Keep up the good work! Oh, also you are going to want to have a sightings category for when you spot this plant at the Wildlife Refuge!
i like your pictures alot. the only thing i would say is to organize the different parts of your information and i also think you should explain what pure breeds are i do not understand
Josie, Lilac scent is great and signals spring for many. This site is off to a good start. I agree with Brennan that the list should be accompanied with explanations and/or pictures to help the visitor. You should include information on pollination, seed size, and frequency and how they are distributed. Clarify leaves being “edible.” Is this for humans or wildlife only? It would be beneficial to explain why air circulation is helpful to the lilac. Josie, you do a nice job of personalizing your blogs.
Hi we are trying to find out the name of one particular lilac and its the fourth photo down on your blog, its maroon colour with white centre, do you know which variety this is please as we would love to buy one for our garden
thanks
I was drawn to this site because of the pictures. I would like to purchase a lilac like the one in one of your pictures. I think it would be nice if you gave the names of the lilacs with the pictures. I would like to know the name of the one with the white borders on the petals. Thank you, Marcia
Are all lilac leaves edible for humans I remember my sister and I putting them between soda crackers and eating them. We were in a lot of trouble with Mom when she saw what we were doing. I don’t remember how much we ate, but we don’t remember being sick.
Josie I am doing some research on lilacs because my son gave me one for Mother’s Day. In your article you mention not knowing how long they can grow. The date my son’s house was built is 1880 and his lilacs, which I would gladly send you picture of their massive trunks were planted then. I thought he had gone to the trouble of rooting a cutting from his lilacs. No such luck and when I thought he had, he was surprised. What I got was a pale purple lilac in a pot from Roma Home Building. I thought I would take it back and exchange for a darker but all they had was the pallid mauve variety. A friend gave me a shoot from his white lilac and its trunk grew sideways under a low lying branch of a cherry tree. I think this format precludes sending pictures.