lilac
Syringa vulgaris is a species of flowering plant in the olive family Oleaceae, native to the Balkan Peninsula, where it grows on rocky hills. Grown for its scented pink flowers in spring, this large shrub or small tree is widely cultivated and has been naturalized in parts of Europe and North America…
How close to a house can you plant lilac bushes?
A distance of 12 feet (4 m.) from the foundation is generally enough to prevent foundation damage. It’s very unlikely that lilac bush roots will break through the side of a foundation. Damage usually occurs when lilac roots approach the base of the foundation under the soil.
What can I plant next to lilacs?
They are compatible in color, fragrance and form, and make each other look better. Plant peonies at your lilac’ foot to hide its poorly clad legs and savor the beauty and pervasive perfume they lavish on those who passes-by. The large, showy leaves of Hostas complement nicely the blooms of the lilacs.
Do lilac bushes need companions?
However lovely the flowers are, the shrub’s short blooming season can be disappointing. Careful selection of lilac bush companions in the garden can help fill the gap. For tips on what to plant with lilac bushes, read on. If you are wondering what to plant with lilac bushes, you may be surprised at the large selection of lilac companion plants.
How do you plant Lilacs in Texas?
To thrive, lilacs need good drainage. Soil should retain sufficient moisture to nourish the root system yet drain freely when rainfall is abundant. To test drainage before planting, dig a hole that is about 8 inches in diameter by 12 inches deep. Fill the hole with water.
Where should you not plant lilac bushes?
Lilacs grow best in full sun, so avoid planting them where they will be shaded for more than half a day. Be sure to plant them with enough space for future growth. Read the plant label to get the height and spread of the mature plant. To thrive, lilacs need good drainage.
How much space does a lilac bush need?
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.
Do lilacs have deep roots?
The root system of a lilac tree is deep and wide, often creating a large rootball requiring two or more people to pull from the ground. Measure the diameter of the tree trunk at breast level, between 4 and 5 feet off the ground.
How close to a fence can I plant lilac?
-Plant your lilac containers or lilac bare roots at least 5 feet apart from each other so their root systems have room to spread and to provide each plant with proper air circulation. –Try to place lilac bushes a few feet away from a wall or fence for the same reason as above – this shrub spreads out wide as it grows.
Can you keep a lilac bush small?
If you're in the market for a lilac, keep in mind that there are new dwarf varieties available, including the repeat bloomer 'Boomerang' that tend to stay much lower in height and, with yearly pruning, can easily be kept shorter than 6 feet tall.
Are lilacs good for privacy?
Lilac hedges, with their colorful, often fragrant blooms, provide privacy and beautify the landscape. Plant them as a screen, barrier, property line marker or garden room divider or backdrop.
Is there a difference between a lilac bush and a lilac tree?
The difference comes down to the amount and placement of stems. Lilac bushes (AKA shrubs) are defined in the typical manner, with multiple woody stems coming up from the base of the plant. In contrast, most lilac trees have one single woody stem: the trunk.
Is common lilac invasive?
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.
How do you stop lilacs from spreading?
French lilacs send out their runners in order to increase their overall size. You can install barriers that go down 6 inches or more into the ground that should keep the lilacs from spreading through to your landscape beds. The barrier could be a poly-based material with steel or metal edging.
Do lilac bushes spread?
Lilacs have a special method of seed dispersal known as ballistichory, or ballistic dispersal, in which the seed pods spring open suddenly to fling the seeds in a wide radius around the plant.
Are lilac trees messy?
A: The average lifespan of lilac trees can be around 50 years. Q: Are lilac trees messy? A: Being a deciduous tree, lilacs tend to shed their leaves during winter. So, in this season, the area can get messy.
How quickly do lilacs grow?
The best time to plant lilac bushes is in the early fall before the ground freezes. They have a moderate growth rate of 1 to 2 feet per year.
Why are my lilacs white?
Lilac can suffer from mildew. This disease causes a white down on the leaves especially if it is hot and humid. Remove affected branches with disinfected pruning shears. Insects such as certain butterflies or scale insects can also attack the plant.
How to grow roses in a container?
Choose a container of at least 16 inches in diameter or side. Fill it with rose soil or a mixture of garden soil and universal soil amended with organic manure. Make a good handful of amendments each early spring. Mulch and water to keep the substrate cool, especially in the summer. No need to prune.
How to grow a sage plant in a pot?
Pour a layer of the mixture at the bottom of the pot on the drainage bed. Place the root ball and adjust the height by adding more mix if necessary so that the collar of the shrub is 1 or 2 inches below the top of the pot. Fill in any gaps and pack well around the stem. Water copiously and add more mix if necessary.
What are some good companion plants for lilacs?
You’ll find many attractive spring bulbs to fill up the area near your lilac bush as lilac companion plants. Bulb plants like daffodils, tulips, grape hyacinth and peonies multiply and naturalize. Plant enough of them and you’ll ...
What is a lilac shrub?
Image by aga7ta. Lilacs ( Syringa vulgaris) are striking specimen plants with their early-blooming lacy blossoms that exude a sweet perfume. You’ll find cultivars with blue, pink, purple and other color blossoms. However lovely the flowers are, the shrub’s short blooming season can be disappointing.
When do lilacs bloom?
You can use other lilac bushes to great advantage. While in yesteryear, all lilacs bloomed in spring, these days you can find cultivars that bloom at different periods. Pick shrubs that blossom at different times so that you can have several months of lilacs instead of only several weeks.
Can a lilac tree be planted beside a trellis?
Placed beside each other in your backyard, they make a fabulous spring display. For more adventurous companion planting with lilacs, allow your lilac tree to serve as a trellis for light vines. If you plant a lightweight vine like clematis, it can scale your lilac without hurting it.
Do lilac bushes make good trellises?
Lilac bushes also make good trellises for passionflower vines, like maypop. Maypop also blooms after the lilac blossoms have faded—large, fringed flowers—and, later, grows attractive, edible fruit. Printer Friendly Version. This article was last updated on 11/18/20. Read more about Lilac Bushes.
Planting lilacs near my foundation?
I'd like to plant some lilacs next to my house on either side and I just read that sometimes lilac root systems can damage foundations.
Re: Planting lilacs near my foundation?
I feel like this question was answered for me in my other post about pruning lilacs and root growth, I don't know how to delete posts, but the forum master is welcome to delete this.
Do you need to deadhead lilacs?
With other lilac varieties, deadheading is mostly cosmetic. Not required, but it does make the plant look better.
Do lilacs need sun?
Lilacs grow best in full sun, so avoid planting them where they will be shaded for more than half a day. Be sure to plant them with enough space for future growth. Read the plant label to get the height and spread of the mature plant. To thrive, lilacs need good drainage.
How tall do lilacs grow?
Vulgaris languish in anything above U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone 7; however, several options exist for mild-climate gardeners. Chinese lilacs (S. x chinensis) grows 12 to 15 feet tall with a dense growth habit and a neat rounded shape. It flowers reliably in USDA zones 3 through 9. Several cultivars of hyacinth lilacs (S. hyacinthifloria) were developed specifically for California growers. They closely resemble S. vulgaris but are shorter, topping out at around 10 feet. The USDA zone varies with the cultivar, but several hyacinth lilacs thrive in USDA zones 8 and 9. Shop at local nurseries to select lilacs that grow best in your area.
What zone do hyacinth lilacs grow in?
They closely resemble S. vulgaris but are shorter, topping out at around 10 feet. The USDA zone varies with the cultivar, but several hyacinth lilacs thrive in USDA zones 8 and 9.
How wide is a lilac shrub?
Consider that location carefully before planting your purchase. Within three or four years, a lilac will be 8 feet wide. You can keep it smaller with regular pruning, but you risk losing the graceful shape of the shrub.
Can you keep lilacs smaller?
You can keep it smaller with regular pruning, but you risk losing the graceful shape of the shrub. Their size makes lilacs inappropriate for foundation plantings, locations against walls and fences, and places where they will eventually shade or encroach upon established parts of the garden.
What flowers are compatible with lilacs?
Passiflora incarnata (Wild Passion Flower) is the hardiest of the passion flowers and will add striking color after the lilac blooms have faded. 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.
What are the cultural requirements for lilacs?
Lilacs Cultural Requirements. There is a wide range of companion plants that will bring out the best qualities of your Lilacs and share their space with a serene balance. Make sure you select any ornamental grasses, perennials, shrubs or trees that have the same growing requirements as your Lilacs.
How to extend the season of interest of lilacs?
To extend the season of interest of your lilac, grow clematis with different bloom times through its branches to add color and glamour to the shrub. Choose a clematis type that blooms mid- or late-season and bursts into bloom after your lilac. Clematis viticella is probably the most popular choice for growing through a shrub.
What is the best vine to grow through a shrub?
Clematis viticella is probably the most popular choice for growing through a shrub. Passion Flowers (Passiflora) are among the most exotic vines to enjoy in our gardens. Easy to grow, they reward us with their bold, beautiful, fascinating blossoms over a long season and some give way to delectable passion fruits.
How long do lilies bloom?
Often called the perfect perennial because of their numerous qualities: showy flowers, wide array of vibrant colors, drought tolerance, ability to grow in most areas and low care requirements, they are remarkable and stunning additions to the garden where they bloom vigorously for weeks and weeks.
Do peonies look good with lilacs?
They are compatible in color, fragrance and form, and make each other look better. Plant peonies at your lilac’ foot to hide its poorly clad legs and savor the beauty and pervasive perfume they lavish on those who passes-by. The large, showy leaves of Hostas complement nicely the blooms of the lilacs.
Is a dogwood good for lilacs?
Though the fruits are not appropriate for human consumption, they are vital to the insects, birds, and small animals. Flowering dogwoods (Cornus) are excellent landscape choices for all four seasons and wonderful companions for early-blooming lilacs.
