2024-02-05 15:00:32
Purple, pink and white, lilac flowers are an excellent option to add beauty and aroma to the garden. With some basic care, you can keep your lilo plant strong and radiant.
Last update: February 5, 2024
The lilac or lilo plant, scientifically known as Common syringeis a shrub or small tree that stands out in any garden. Its scented and showy violet, white or pink flowers appear in spring. and they make this specimen captivate whoever sees it.
Its maintenance is quite simple, so it is a plant that you should take into account if you want your patio, terrace or balcony to look more beautiful without so much effort. With this guide you will have all the information you need to take care of your lilac tree and enjoy its splendor to the fullest.
Characteristics of the lilac plant
Its flowers can measure up to a centimeter wide.
Bushes of lilacs or common lilacs They are deciduous species that dazzle with their exuberant flowering in spring. They belong to the olive family, along with other ornamental plants such as ash trees, forsythias and privet hedges.
One of its most notable characteristics is the sweet aroma of its flowers, which perfumes the surrounding air and attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Lilac flowers are less than a centimeter wide, but they cluster in dense, branching clusters or panicles, creating a spectacular display of color and fragrance in spring.
The leaves of the plant are gray or blue-green and they reach between five and 12 centimeters long. Although they are deciduous, they do not change color in autumn, maintaining their characteristic tone.
They grow one to two feet per year, allowing them to develop gradually, although they can eventually become trees.
Types of lilac
There are different varieties of lilac plant that vary in appearance and size. We have compiled a list of the most outstanding ones, to place in the garden or decorate your home.
- Syringa vulgaris Katherine Havemeyer: It is a spreading shrub with double lavender-blue flowers and heart-shaped leaves.
- Syringa vulgaris Madame Lemoine: It is characterized by its bright white double flowers. Measures up to 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide.
- Syringa vulgaris Primrose: It grows 10 to 15 feet tall and six to 10 feet wide. It stands out for its aromatic white flowers that mature to a creamy yellow color.
- Syringe vulgaris Sensation: It stands out for its purple-red flowers with white edges.
- Syringa meyeri Palibin: It is a Korean variety with purple-pink flower panicles. It is compact and slow growing, ideal for smaller gardens or for growing in pots.
- Syringa Red Pixie: It is a compact lilac that produces masses of opening pink flowers from red buds. It is perfect for a small garden or for growing in a large pot.
- Wedgewood Blue: It is a compact lilac variety that reaches a height of only six feet at maturity. The flowers are contained in thick lavender-blue clusters.
- Yankee Doodle: It is a small shrub that grows six to 10 feet tall and five to six feet wide. Its flowers are intense purple. It is a little more resistant to cold than other species.
- Belle de Nancy: It has double pink flowers and grows eight to 10 feet tall and six to eight feet wide.
Care for the lilac plant
Lilac bushes are so attractive that— often used for ornamental purposes or as focal points in the landscape. They are also a privacy tree in the garden, as they are popular for planting in rows along property boundaries, where they are pruned to form loose hedges.
The smaller, more compact varieties are suitable for foundation plantings or large pots. In fact, many people place them on the edges of their balconies so that their flowers hang downwards in spring.
Although there are different species in this family, the care of the lilac plant is common to all its varieties. These are simple and easy to care for specimens.
We tell you what you should take into account to keep this tree healthy, strong and ensure optimal and lush flowering each spring.
1. Choose a suitable planting location
Lilac is an extremely hardy shrub that can adapt to a wide variety of soils. It can thrive in sandy and even clay soils, although The ideal is to opt for a neutral or calcareous soil.
Beyond the composition of the soil, It is crucial to ensure good drainage, since the lilac does not tolerate waterlogging. It is advisable to plant it in an area where water does not accumulate to avoid problems related to drowning or excess humidity.
When to plant it?
The ideal is to plant the lilac at the end of winter, optimal time to promote rooting. It is important to enrich the soil with organic matter before planting to provide the nutrients necessary for healthy growth.
2. Ensures good light
The amount of light the plant receives has a direct impact on its ability to flower. Therefore, it is recommended Place the lilac tree in a place where it receives plenty of light.
Ideally, the plant should be exposed to at least six hours of direct sun most days. Although it can tolerate some shade, it is important to consider that a low light location will limit its ability to flower and growth will be slower.
3. Consider the temperature
The need for sun is not the only factor that helps the lilac plant bloom with fabulous flowers. In addition to the heat, The lilac also requires a certain degree of cold exposure. Although it may surprise, it is capable of resisting temperatures of up to 15 degrees below zero, without suffering significant damage.
lilac bushes They prefer cool, dry climates. They are not recommended plants for very hot and humid areas, as excess humidity can lead to the development of fungal diseases.
On the other hand, lilacs can tolerate temperatures well below freezing. However, It is important to protect them from cold and strong winds, which can damage flower buds and break stems.
4. Water with discipline
One of the essential care for lilacs is adequate and constant watering. Despite the relative ease of its cultivation, this plant does not forgive carelessness regarding its hydration.
To ensure healthy growth and abundant flowering It is crucial to keep the roots well hydrated. Irrigation is especially necessary during the flower season and during hot periods, especially in young and recently planted specimens.
Although watering should be frequent, lilacs prefer a moderate amount of soil moisture. As we told you, Plant drainage is very important to avoid waterlogging. that promote root rot and poor flowering.
For young plants, you need to find a balance of watering regularly to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. In mature specimens, irrigation during periods of drought is usually sufficient, since they are more resistant to lack of water once established.
5. Pruning in winter
Pruning promotes flowering, ensures adequate air circulation and prevents some diseases. In any case, it is not a care that you should pay too much attention to.
At the end of flowering, During the spring and summer months, it will only be necessary to remove the clusters of withered flowers, without touching the branches.
In the winter months, when the plant is dormant, remove old branches and prune the tree to shape it. In any case, you should do it carefully, removing no more than a third of the total branches.
6. Fertilize in spring
The application of a mineral fertilizer during the flowering season It can help you get more abundant flowers. However, it is important to note that this type of fertilizer should only be used during this time of year.
It is important to use a balanced fertilizer and avoid those with high nitrogen content, as this can result in poor flowering. Follow the label instructions to apply it properly and avoid overfeeding problems.
In autumn, what you can apply is a good dose of organic fertilizer, as compost, to nourish the soil and provide the necessary nutrients for the arrival of winter.
7. Take care of your lilo plant from pests
Another important aspect that you should consider is protecting your lilac plant from various diseases and insects that can attack it. It’s crucial detect these problems early and take measures to prevent their spread.
Due to the high need for irrigation, powdery mildew and virus disease are two common diseases in lilacs. With the arrival of heat, it is important to be attentive to other pests, such as mealybugs, scales, borers and the caterpillars of certain butterflies. Powdery mildew may also develop.
Control humidity, ensure good ventilation and use a chemical or natural fungicide. It will help you solve these problems.
How to propagate lilac plants?
The lilacs They spread easily, through shoots that extend from the trunk, which makes its replication an economical way to obtain new bushes. The best time to perform this task is from late spring to early summer, allowing the sprouts enough time to establish before the arrival of cold weather.
To propagate lilacs, dig around one of the shoots and cut it from the main plant, making sure to keep the roots intact. Then, replant the sprout in rich soil in the desired location and maintain humidity at all times (without waterlogging).
If you grow lilacs in pots, choose one with at least 60 cm in diameter and use a suitable fertilizer with a little sand or gravel to improve drainage.
How to make lilacs bloom?
With the care we mentioned, your lilac plant should bloom every spring without problems. In any case, if you notice that the lilac flowers are no longer as abundant as before, check these aspects:
- Make sure your lilo plant receives at least six hours of sunlight: Shade can be the cause of fewer flowers.
- Control the soil moisture level: avoid puddles, but water frequently. You can add mulch around the plant to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds that could compete with the lilac.
- Perform rejuvenation pruning: If your lilac has stopped blooming, remove one-third of the oldest branches just after flowering and repeat this process in subsequent seasons to remove old branches and encourage the growth of new, more vigorous branches.
- Consider planting different varieties of lilacs: that bloom at different times, to enjoy a longer flowering period.
Why do lilac leaves turn brown?
If the leaves of lilacs acquire a brown tone, You must correct this condition with remedies, so that the plant regains its health.. However, this characteristic color may be indicating several problems such as:
- Excess fertilizer.
- Prolonged exposure to very intense sunlight.
- Water stress due to water scarcity, especially in young plants.
- A bacterial infection that develops under poor growing conditions.
Beautiful, scented and easy to care for
Lilacs are easy-to-maintain outdoor plants that They require basic care such as pruning, fertilization and irrigation during dry periods. Their tubular bell-shaped flowers, which hang in clusters, make them ideal for decorating terraces, balconies and patios.
Available in a variety of colors, from purple to pink and white, lilacs They are a popular option in outdoor ornamentation. Their distinctive aroma adds a sense of harmony to any space, making them a charming choice to beautify your home.
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