Syringa vulgaris  "Common Lilac"

Average soil Plant height to 15 feet Clusters:  6-8 inches long Blooms in spring Healthy in zones 3-8

    I made a trip to New York last weekend to surprise my mom for "Mother's Day."  She was totally surprised, and we both enjoyed the visit. I hope all you moms had a wonderful day too!  And during my visit, I wandered around the "old homestead" enjoying the blooming plants and shrubbery.  While touring the outside of my home,  the powerful fragrance of lilacs hit me. Lilacs stand tall along both sides of the house and near the south side of the driveway.  They were in full bloom and the fragrance, wonderful!

    Much nostalgia is associated with Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris).  I say, "when you speak of lilacs, you're speaking of mom and your childhood."   My childhood memories embrace the lilac.  Lilacs had their special place. For example, a lilac bouquet sat in the middle of the dining room table enclosed in the fancy crystal vase.  Another bouquet sat on top of my dresser in my pink painted bedroom.  I fell asleep every night during spring with the fragrance encircling me.  More bouquets adorned the coffee table in the living room.  And most definitely, at least one day a week;  I brought a bouquet to my teacher complete with wet newspaper, then aluminum foil and secured with  a rubber band around the stems.  What memories to cherish!

    Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) was very popular "in the day."  At least I can speak of my home and street.  Each and every home owner had lilacs growing somewhere in their yard.  And believe me when I say, " my bouquet was not the only one sitting on Miss Greco's desk."   When the school bus pulled up in front of our school, student after student carried their bouquet proudly off the bus into the hands of their teacher.

    If you are interested in having Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) growing in your yard;  it is quite easy to grow and to maintain.  It's hardy, but requires full sun.  Shaded areas will guarantee powdery mildew disease problems.  The lilac is an upright and leggy shrub of irregular outline but usually devoid of lower branches after a time,  and forming a cloud like head of foliage.  The leaves are medium to coarse and dark green in color.  The stem is stout, angles, lustrous brown.  This shrub can grow from 8' to 15' in height with a spread of 6 to 12" wide.  Flowers are extremely fragrant, early to mid May, borne in 4 to 8" long panicles, usually in pairs from the terminal buds. It is best to remove spent blossoms quickly to increase next year's bloom, and prune out 50 to 75 percent of the suckers each year.  Renew old plants by cutting them back.

    The main selling point of the Common lilac is that it is not too particular about the soil it grows in,  though a loamy soil with a neutral pH is ideal.   So chances are it could be a winner in your yard,  if your soil isn't in the best condition.  Annual fertilization is necessary.  Too much care can reduce flowering.

    Common lilac is in a way a low maintenance shrub.  So just sit back, enjoy the fragrance, and let the lilac do what it does best.  Smell wonderful!

    I had feedback from a garden club member today.  She claims that by adding 1 cup of lime per year to her lilac,  gives her a healthier plant.  Andy will be back next week.

                                                                                            Ellen E. Lynn
                                                                                            Guest Columnist