If this past winter seemed interminably long, on the positive side, it has been a truly glorious year for lilacs: enormous trusses, rich and varied colours and matchless fragrance. Now is the time to plant lilacs for next year.
One of the most frequently planted shrubs on the prairies during the early part of the 20th century, lilacs are grown primarily for their fragrant flowers in white, pink, lilac, blue or purple. Although much of the early breeding work took place in France at the Lemoine Nursery (reason why some are called "French lilacs"), Canadian plant breeders such as Isabella Preston in Ottawa and Frank Skinner of Manitoba made major contributions to our modern lilac cultivars.
Here are a few of my favourites.
The hyacinth-flowered lilacs (Syringa hyacinthiflora, hybrids of S. vulgaris and S. oblata var. dilatata) were developed mostly by Frank Skinner. They are generally upright and spreading, about 2.7 m (9 ft) in height with large, showy, fragrant flowers. They sucker less than the common lilac (S. vulgaris). 'Maiden's Blush' has single, almost bi-coloured pink flowers. 'Sister Justina' has double white flowers with little or no suckering. 'Mount Baker' has single white flowers and begins flowering at a very young age. 'Pocahontas' has single, dark purple flowers with exceptionally profuse bloom.
The Preston lilacs (S. x prestoniae, hybrids of S. villosa and S. reflexa) are fragrant, late-blooming, and tend to be non-suckering, about 2.7 m (9 ft) in height with a coarse texture and large leaves. 'Miss Canada' has clear, deep pink flowers in very large clusters emerging from red buds.
The common lilac (S. vulgaris) is a large (up to 4.5 m/15 ft), dense and vigorous shrub, with abundant and fragrant flowers. Unfortunately, for those with limited space, it suckers aggressively. 'Congo' has single intense magenta flowers in large dense panicles. 'President Lincoln' has heavy clusters of single, Wedgwood blue panicles. 'Sensation' is a single purple with petals uniquely edged in white. 'Beauty of Moscow' is a heavy bloomer with double white flowers tinged with lavender rose.
The Japanese tree lilac (S. reticulata) is the tallest of the lilacs, up to 8 m (26 ft), blooming in late June or early July. As the common name implies, it is a small tree. The large, loose triangular shaped clusters are cream-coloured. 'Golden Eclipse' is a recent introduction with creamy variegated foliage, but is only reliably hardy to zone 3. Plant it in your most protected location. 'Ivory Silk' is an improved selection with attractive, brown bark. In unprotected locations it is subject to sunscald but the bark often heals over.
The Meyer lilac (S. meyeri) is a compact, gently rounded, dwarf shrub of 1.8 m (6 ft) with small glossy leaves. It produces an abundance of attractive, fragrant, small pink flowers in small clusters in late June. It is the lilac of choice for smaller yards.
Lilacs do best in full sun and well-drained soil. A word about pruning: next year's flower buds develop shortly after the current flowers finish blooming. If you wait too long to prune or shear, you'll be removing next season's flowers!
To learn more, drop by the University of Saskatchewan during Hort Week (July 6 - 12) for my presentation on Best Trees and Shrubs for the Prairies. Also of interest to you may be the tours, lectures and 30+ gardening workshops. Check out the 2013 Hort Week brochure online at http://ccde.usask.ca/gardening/hortweek. Or call (306) 966-5546 for more information.
- Sara Williams is the author of the newly revised and expanded Creating the Prairie Xeriscape. This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (www.saskperennial.ca; email: [email protected]).
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