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Planting, Growing, and Pruning Lilacs
Cooking Notes
Lilac flowers are edible, but flavor varies among cultivars, from no flavor to “green” and lemony flavors. Gather insect- and disease-free blooms early in the day. Avoid any that are unopened or past their peak. Wash the flowers gently in cool water. Pat them dry and refrigerate until ready to use.
Consider making candied lilac flowerets for a special cake decoration: Separate the individual flowers. Using tweezers, dip each one into a beaten egg white, reconstituted egg white powder, or packaged egg whites. Then, dip the flower in finely granulated sugar. Set it aside to dry before placing it on a cake.
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Lilacs are my favorite flower~
I’m in zone 8B and always thought lilacs would not survive here. A friend gave me one a couple of years ago. I knew it couldn’t take the hot Texas sun, so I planted it where it only gets morning sun. It bloomed last year and has even more buds about to bloom today. It makes me happy.
I have a lilac bush with only 5-6 thick canes then maybe 20-30 branches. . The bush is a little over 4ft tall, only produced 1 Bloom so far. It is planted near landscaping stones at the end of a garden bed. It was hard-pruned this past winter (i know blooms will take another year or more). With it being planted near stones (on 1 side only), how can I encourage my bush to send out more shoots to grow wider/bushier?
I’m in Zone 6B. No clue what variety i have, it bloomed a very light purple almost white bloom 1 year ago or so. It gets full sun
Hi, Megan,
After hard pruning, where everything is cut down to about 6 to 8 inches (on grafted plants, be sure to make the cut above the graft union), it will take a few years for the bush to re-establish and fill out, but you should see some nice growth coming up over the years. We’re guessing the 4-foot-growth appeared this year after the hard pruning last winter? For the next few years, perhaps refrain from pruning drastically any further, to allow the plant to re-establish itself. Do, however, continue to remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches.
In general, if a lilac bush needs just a tiny bit of pruning to keep it in shape, and to encourage bushy growth, you can cut the tips of branches that are too tall back to a side shoot or bud. This will encourage that side shoot to grow outward instead of the tip continuing to grow upward. Deadheading spent flowers can also help the plant focus its energy on growing shoots and new flowers. Remove any suckers that pop up near the base of the plant.
Make sure that the plant has good growing conditions; full sun, as you have, is great for it. Also check if it has well-draining soil. Clay soil can slow its growth. Lilacs do best in neutral soil pH.
Hope this helps!
I have a lilac, approximately 15 feet tall, full sun, soil etc.is in good condition. Unfortunately there is no evidence of growth. There was an ice storm in our area in April, however I have a second lilac that bloomed just fine.
The one in question we lost approximately one third due to ice storm damage. I trimmed back the damaged portion. Please note that I am approximately 40 kilometres north of Montreal Quebec and the lilac in question was planted in 1999.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
PS as mentioned I have another lilac which is fine and I have two Japanese Lilac Trees that are growing without any issues.
Hello. I have a Lilac Tree which is taking over by sprouting all around the tree and taking space from the other plants. I put the fabric around the tree and covered with stones but still coming right and left . any advise? Thanks
Hi, Kami, You’re dealing with runners or suckers. Most lilac plants spread this way (one variety, Miss Canada lilac (Syringa x prestoniae, does not send out as many as most others; other “safe,” suckerless options include Meyer lilac, Peking, and Manchurian lilac).
What to do? There are not a lot of options. As you’ve learned, covering the runners will not stop them. One solution may be to install barriers, or edging, that you bury about 6 inches or more below ground level. Use a steel or metal edged type. First cut (at ground level or as low/deep as you can) and pull the existing runners, then put in the barrier. It should reduce or stop the runners for a few seasons.
I am curious, when you are talking about “runners,” are they more lilac trees trying to spread themselves? Just curious, as I am new to planting my own lilac trees and bushes, as well as gardening this year and I had previously had lilac trees in my backyard as a kid/teenager and I don’t remember as much as I thought I did, unfortunately. As I am a lot older now and my memory is not what it used to be. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for any information you can share on the subject. Kerri
I have an older lilac bush in front of my house. It has been my pride and joy. But this winter I had some huge branches break off. Now I don't know what to do with it to help it. I am not sure if I should just leave it be or if I should give it an extreme trimming. Can you offer some suggestions?
I'd leave it be with light trimming to get the Lilac to reestablish itself~