Lilac

Scientific Name: Syringa vulgaris L.
Family: Oleaceae

Recommended Temperature Zone:
Sunset®: 1-11 blooms irregularly in 12-16,18-22
USDA: 3b-9b

Sun Exposure: Full sun

Origin: Europe and North Africa

Growth Habits: Deciduous shrub, up to 15 feet tall (4.5 m); simple, dark green, opposite, heart shaped leaves 2 to 4 inches long (5-10 cm), 1.6 to 3 inches wide (4-7.5 cm)

Flowers: White, pink, red, purple, violet or blue flowers

Watering Needs: Regular water in the spring, slightly alkaline soil

Propagation: Cuttings, seeds

Propagation: Seed or occasionally cutting, layering, grafting/budding

• by softwood, hardwood stem tip, root cuttings, in spring. Apply IBA TALC 8000 PPM. Use intermittent mist. Root in 4-8 weeks. Cuttings with mature leaves (vegetative shoots) are preffered rather than shoots with flower buds..
• by trench layers, in late autumn.
• by whip, 'T' grafts, in late summer. Use a S. villosa or ligustrum ovalifolium or green ash as graftstock. Grafting done in Jan. indoors and plants stored in cool storage room until spring planting. Grafting is not a good way to propagate lilacs because of its suckering habits. The understock may take over the graft.
• by seeds, in spring. The seeds can be harvested in early autumn. The seeds need stratify 40F 2-3mo..

Blooming Habits:
Showy, fragrant, light purple, pink or even white flowers, in mid-spring, in large terminal clusters, 4 to 8 inches long (10-20 cm). Without enough winter chilling, lilac don't bloom properly. Some hybrids like "descanso" need much less chilling.

Culture:
The lilacs bloom on the previous year wood. Pruning should be done after the blooming is finished. They transplant easily.