Is Syringa the same as lilac?
Syringa is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering woody plants in the olive family or Oleaceae called lilacs. These lilacs are native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere.
Syringa 'Primrose' has no toxic effects reported.
Syringa vulgaris, commonly known as common lilac, is an upright, multi-stemmed, suckering, deciduous shrub in the olive family that typically matures to 12-16' (20') tall with a spread to 8-12' (15') wide.
Mae asks: What is the difference between a Korean lilac and a French lilac? Answer: Syringa vulgaris, or common lilac, grows up to 20 feet tall. Varieties of the common lilac are referred to as French lilacs, which come in an abundance of varieties and many colors, from whites and pinks to purples and lavenders.
A well-known family of garden shrubs, syringe bursts into a froth of white flowers in late spring, filling the air with its jasmine-like sweetness – which is what perfumers capture, often alongside other white florals, but also in chypre creations.
Lilacs are totally edible, part of the olive family. The flowers are oil-free, making their essence impossible to distill.
Lilacs do not contain any chemicals or toxins that will poison humans or animals and they do not irritate the skin. Lilacs are free of poisons from the tips of their branches to the ends of their roots. In fact, the flowers of the lilac are actually edible.
Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they smell amazing AND give us some wonderful edible flowers to enjoy. In fact, many people are surprised to learn that lilacs are edible and can be used in so many different ways.
The ideal spot to plant lilacs is in an area with full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours per day)—give them too much shade and they may not bloom. Lilacs also like slightly alkaline, moist, well-drained soil. The best time to plant lilacs is in late fall before the ground freezes.
Lilac roots need their space as they will spread to about 1 ½ times the width of the shrub. Their roots are not considered invasive, but a shrub that's 10' wide will probably have roots extending out about 15' in all directions.
Can you plant lilac bush next to house?
Lilac roots aren't considered invasive and as long as you leave enough space between the tree, or shrub, and the structure, there is little risk from planting lilacs near foundations. Lilac roots generally spread one and one-half times the width of the shrub. A distance of 12 feet (4 m.)
The lilac usually considered the most fragrant is a Chinese native—S. pubescens. It has small, white flowers tinged with purple. The fragrance is sweet and spicy, very different from the traditional “lilac” scent.
The World's Only Yellow Lilac! Here's a good-looking shrub in the rarest of lilac colors for late spring. The sweet-smelling light yellow blooms turn a deeper shade as the blooms mature.
A favorite of northern gardeners, the Old-Fashioned Lilac is sure to delight your senses with its fragrance and lilac-purple flower panicles. Also called the common lilac, this flowering shrub grows 8-15 ft. tall with a 6-12 ft. spread.
Lilacs are among the most carefree of all shrubs. Their needs are simple: plenty of sunlight, good drainage, fertile soil and annual pruning. Choose your planting site carefully and the only care you'll need to provide is yearly pruning to maintain a nice shape.
Indole is a chemical naturally in many flowers and added to perfume. In trace amounts, it is floral and lovely. In heavier concentrations, it smells a bit like mothballs, or is even fecal and in fact, it's in excrement.
When no smell from lilac bushes is apparent, it is usually due to one of two things—non-aromatic species or air temperature. Generally, common lilac (Syringa vulgaris), also known as old-fashioned lilac, possesses the strongest and most pleasing aroma of all lilac species.
*Age: Lilac plants need time to grow before they begin flowering. So, if you have a very young plant, it may not be mature enough to bloom. Most plants start blooming after three or four years but some may take as long as six or seven. The blooms for the first few years will be sparse but should increase with time.
Bloomerang Purple lilac is the original reblooming lilac. It blooms in spring along with other lilacs, takes a brief rest to put on new growth, then blooms again from mid-summer through fall.
Bloomerang lilac trees have distinctive, 4-petaled, 4-6 inch deep lilac-purple flowers that bloom starting in May, take a pause through June, and bloom again from July through the first frost of the year.
Why did farmers plant lilacs?
They became a common plant in American yards. New Englanders planted lilacs near their front doors as a sign of welcome. Those lonesome lilacs in the woods might have marked an entryway. Or, because an outhouse had to be moved from time to time, when it was, a lilac would be planted in its place.
Just like Grapevine, Lilac is also a popular wood for barbeques. Lilac produces a mild and sweet smoke which is generally preferred for cooking poultry and lamb. However, the truth is Lilac can be extremely harmful to your health.
The lilac's heady perfume signals spring, not just to humans but to a bevy of bugs as well. This sun-loving shrub attracts not just bees and butterflies to its lavender blooms. Destructive insects such as lilac borers and leaf miners like to feast on its stems and leaves.
Lilac-purple flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Shrubs are deer and rabbit-resistant.
Deer will most likely eat the lilac bushes during the winter or when other food sources are scarce. It also happens when your lilac bushes are young because deer will gladly feed on them. If lilac bushes are also native to your area, there's a high chance they might become one of the deer's favorite foods.
The common lilac isn't toxic to cats, but Brutlag says your cat could experience minor gastrointestinal upset after chowing down. "Ingesting any plants, even if they are non-toxic, can lead to vomiting.
Lilac flowers have astringent, aromatic, and perhaps a little bitter qualities. Astringents tighten, draw, and dry tissues such as skin. So a wonderful application would be a cold or warm infusion to use as a toner on the face. Or using the same method but apply to rashes, cuts, and other skin ailments.
Actually, lilac is supposed to be a medicinal herb that can help lower fever and improve digestion. Its medicinal use has been documented since the middle ages.
Violet lilacs symbolize spirituality. Blue lilacs symbolize happiness and tranquility. Magenta lilacs symbolize love and passion. Lilac, the color for which this flower is named, is a light purple that symbolizes a first love.
The best time to plant lilacs is in the fall after the leaves have dropped, but before the ground freezes. You can plant lilacs in the spring before the buds start to unfold. Spring periods are very short, however, and transplanting at this time is recommended only in areas where winters are very severe.
Do lilacs spread?
Lilacs readily spread through suckers. If you want to propagate the plant, simply dig around a new shoot and cut it from the main plant, taking care not to damage its roots. Then, replant it in a new location and keep it well-watered until its roots take hold.
You can expect lilacs to put on around 30-60cm of growth a year. To extend the season of interest, you could try growing a late-flowering clematis through the larger cultivars.
Old, neglected lilacs can be renewed or rejuvenated by pruning. Home gardeners can choose between two different pruning methods. One way to renew a large, overgrown lilac is to cut the entire plant back to within 6 to 8 inches of the ground in late winter (March or early April).
Herbaceous peonies and tree peonies (Paeonia) are wonderful companions to lilacs. They are compatible in color, fragrance, and form, and make each other look better. Plant peonies at your lilac's foot to hide its poorly clad legs and savor the beauty and pervasive perfume they lavish on those who passes-by.
Here's the first rule of planting: lilacs need lots of space to grow. If you're planting a hedge, they'll need a spot at least seven to eight feet wide and ten feet wide for a shrub. They also need at least six hours of sun a day to have excellent flowering. Provide a well-drained, alkaline soil.
Plants for Bees: Lilacs
Beautiful, fragrant lilacs are always a good idea if you have the space—and it's not hard to see why bees love them. Lilacs love well-drained soils and the sun, and they grow into large bushes over time, so leave plenty of space for these bee friendly plants to grow when starting your garden.
Rooting Lilacs from cuttings is an easy way to propagate this sweet smelling Spring favorite. Taking cuttings is an age old method of getting more plants from established ones to pass on or keep to expand your own garden. Rooting lilacs from cuttings is a great way to get more of these beautiful bushes.
Lilacs are hardy shrubs, meaning that they need very little care to survive. They can withstand temperatures of -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 C) but may need some protection from icy winds that damage the flower buds.
The smell of Lilac is quite different from lavender. It's more deeply and richly floral, reminiscent of rose with hints of vanilla. If you prefer stronger perfumes, Lilac is an excellent choice.
Common Lilac is the longest blooming species, lasting for a month depending on the cultivar and region. Typically blooming in late spring, it offers the largest flowers with the best fragrance.
Are white lilacs more fragrant than purple?
Syringa is a genus of up to 25-cultivated species with more than one-thousand varieties. Lilacs come in seven colors: violet, blue, lilac, pink, red, purple and white. The purple lilacs have the strongest scent compared to other colors.
Lilacs are relatively long-lived plants (25 years to 50+ years) depending on how they have been cared for and their growing conditions.
Syringa vulgaris 'Monge'. One of the darkest purple lilac varieties you can get.
Syringa 'President Lincoln', Lilac 'President Lincoln' Long regarded as one of the bluest lilacs, Syringa vulgaris 'President Lincoln' is an upright, deciduous shrub with large, showy panicles packed with wonderfully fragrant, single, lavender-blue flowers.
Chinese lilac (S. x chinensis) gets 20 feet tall, growing at a rate of 24 inches per year, and forms an oval or rounded shape. Plant this bush in a site with any type of slightly acidic to highly alkaline soil and that receives full sun to partial shade.
When planted in a row, lilacs can create a great privacy barrier or wind barrier. Today we're walking you through how we created our lilac hedge along our garden and sharing a tip for using landscape fabric.
Lilacs originated in Eastern Europe and Asia and were brought over to America by colonists in the 17th century. Although they weren't native to the United States, they quickly became popular with Americans.