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The common lilac is in the olive family and is native to hillsides in the Balkan area of Europe. Because it produces clusters of pleasantly scented flowers in the spring, it has long been cultivated in Europe and was introduced as a popular ornamental to the United States in the 18th century.
Lilacs are a beloved flower in Pennsylvania and for good reason. They have beautiful purple blooms that add a touch of elegance to any garden or landscape. If you're wondering how to cultivate lilacs in Zone 7a, read on for tips on how to properly water your lilac bushes.
- Guide to Lilac Varieties – 17 Types and How to Identify Them
- Lilac Tree Identification Guide
- Lovely Lilacs
1. Common Purple Lilac – Syringa vulgaris
The Common Purple Lilac, as the name suggests, is the most common lilac commercially grown and from which numerous cultivars have been developed. It is one of the most popular lilac tree varieties. It has lovely lavender-purple flowers with the classic lilac scent that stimulates your senses and attracts countless bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators to your yard. It is an incredibly easy-to-grow deciduous shrub that is best grown in full sun in any soil type with medium moi...
2. Common White Lilac – Syringa vulgaris ‘Alba’
Common White Lilac is a variant of the Common Purple Lilac that produces pure snow-white blossoms in the same large panicles of flowers and the same beautiful scent, but perhaps even more heavily scented. Other than the color, the other significant differences between the two are that this variety tops out at around 10 ft tall and wide, and it is more cold-hardy than the type species, thriving well in USDA Zones 2 – 7. It makes a fantastic windscreen or privacy screen and can be used in borde...
3. Agincourt Beauty Lilac – Syringa vulgaris ‘Agincourt Beauty
Agincourt Beauty is renowned for having the largest individual flowers of all the lilacs in a gorgeous vibrant violet color; some consider it to be the best purple lilac you can buy and it is popular among gardeners. The flowers are also highly scented with the same classic sweet lilac fragrance of the type species. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators will fill your yard as the blossoms open in late April or early May, attracted to the delicious nectar within. It gets its name fr...
Identifying Lilac Trees by Their Leaf Arrangement
Most varieties of lilacs have simple (not compound) leaves that are arranged in opposite pairs along the branches, although occasionally, they may appear in whorls of three. This will help differentiate them from other shrubs with similar leaves that are arranged alternately along the stem. A lesser-known species out of China has odd-pinnate compound leaves with leaflets that are arranged oppositely or sub-oppositely and have a terminal leaflet at the end of their leaves.
Identifying Lilac Trees by Their Leaf Shapes
People normally describe lilacs as having heart-shaped (cordate) leaves, but since there are many species and cultivars, and variability within species, there are actually several different leaf shapes seen in lilacs. Being able to describe the shape of the leaf will help you identify some of the different species and cultivars. Lilac tree leaves can be: 1. Cordate – heart-shaped with the petiole in the cleft. 2. Ovate – egg-shaped, widest at the base. 3. Lanceolate – lance-shaped or narrowly...
Identifying Leaf Trees by Their Leaf Tips
The shape of the leaf tip in lilacs tends not to vary much, but when other leaf tips are seen, they can be helpful clues in identifying the different species of lilacs. Lilac leaf tips can be: 1. Acuminate – the most common by far, where the tip narrows to a long or sometimes short drawn-out tip. 2. Acute – the two sides are more or less straight and meet at an angle of less than 90°. 3. Obtuse – the two sides are more or less straight and meet at an angle greater than 90°. 4. Truncate – appe...
Interesting Facts About Lilac Trees
Lilacs are part of the Oleaceae or Olive family of trees, most closely related to the olives we eat in Mediterranean foods than they are to any of the other popular cut flowers. Carl Linnaeus named the genus Syringaback in 1753 after the ancient Greek word “syrinx,” which means pipe or tube in reference to the hollow branches (not actually hollow but filled with a soft pith). Lilacs are a popular traditional gift for graduates since they are seen as a symbol of confidence. Lilacs are edible a...
Human Uses of Lilac Trees
Lilacs are mostly grown as ornamental shrubs in various landscaping applications for their lush foliage and gorgeous flowers. Lilac plants are also grown for the cut flower industry, popular in mixed bouquets. Lilacs are popular for their fragrant aroma and are used in perfumes, cosmetics, and soaps.
Wildlife Values Lilac Trees Provide
Lilac trees provide rich nectar for countless hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other native pollinators that will be attracted to your yard by both the scent and the color of the flowers. Other birds will feed on the seeds from the capsules they produce after flowering. Many birds and small animals use the shrubs for shelter and cover. I hope you have enjoyed learning so much more about the lovely lilac tree. You can go and use your newfound skills to identify the lilacs around you or to...
1 day ago · Soil Requirements. Lilac trees thrive best in well-draining soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH range of 6.5 to 7.0. This pH level supports nutrient uptake, promoting healthier growth and more abundant blooms. If your soil is more acidic than this range, you can add lime to help raise the pH gradually.
Apr 24, 2023 · The classic lilac flower fragrance is highly anticipated every spring. Learn how to care for these prized spring-blooming shrubs to continue to share their beauty and fragrance.
The common lilac is an old-fashioned, long-lived, and well-loved lilac best known for its fragrant flowers. It is extremely hardy and thrives with little care which makes it a lovely shrub for a specimen planting, in masses, screens, hedges, or mixed in shrub borders.
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