How to grow Common Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

A young plant may not bloom for several years.

Blooming may be retarded by too much nitrogen – such as lawn fertilizer. Will grow in less than full sun, but bloom is diminished and susceptible to mildew.

Removal of spent flowers will result in a neater appearance and more bloom the following year. Any pruning to control size and shape should be done immediately after flowering.

Most varieties require sufficient winter chill to bloom. A few selected varieties will bloom in mild winter areas (zones 8 and 9).

Growing Common lilac from seed

Some varieties will self-sow.

As it can take 5 or more years to grow a lilac bush to blooming size from seed, growing from seed is uncommon.

A more common propagation method is to dig up a side shoot from an existing plant.

Transplanting Common lilac

Plant in a well drained location that gets at least 6 hours of sun. A 2" mulch layer will help preserve soil moisture and control weeds.
Lilacs are very long lived plants and can become rather large so choose the location carefully.

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Common lilac is a hardy plant.

Harvesting Common lilac

Lilac flowers may be harvested and used as an edible garnish, to make lilac wine2, or may be candied.3
Lilac makes excellent long lived fragrant cut flowers

How long does Common lilac take to grow?

These estimates for how long Common lilac takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Common lilac to germinate?
13 days

Average 13 days | Min 13 days | Max 13 days (1)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Common lilac?
+ days

Average days | Min days | Max days (0)

Days to Maturity How long until Common lilac is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ 1826 days

Average 1826 days | Min 1826 days | Max 1826 days (1)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Common lilac?
= days

Common lilac Etymology

The genus name Syringa is derived from syrinx meaning a hollow tube or pipe, and refers to the broad pith in the shoots in some species, easily hollowed out to make reed pipes and flutes in early history.

A pale purple colour is generally known as lilac after the flower.

The botanical epithet is from the Latin vulgaris meaning “common”.4

Common lilac Folklore & Trivia

Common gardening lore says that peas should be planted when the lilac leaves are the size of a mouse ear.

In “Sleeping Beauty” the Lilac Fairy is the last fairy to give the princess a gift, and uses it to change the evil fairy’s curse of death to 100 years of sleep.5

Lilacs are a symbol of first love.

Lilacs are frequently featured in poetry and song, such as T. S. Eliot’s poem “The Wasteland”, which begins:
“April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain….”

Other names for Common lilac

Lilac

Syringa vulgaris L.

Misspellings: lillac

Footnotes

1 Mr Smarty Pants

2 Lilac Wine recipes

3 How to make candied lilacs

4 Latin Dictionary

5 Pointe Magazine-How It’s Done: Strong Is Beautiful By Joseph Carman
Published in the August/September 2012 issue


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