Syringa vulgaris, commonly called lilo or lilac, is a small tree related to the olive tree in the family oleaceae. Originally from south-eastern Europe, more precisely from the Balkans, it has naturalized very well in the rest of Europe.
He has a great ornamental valueit is therefore common to find it in parks and gardens. It has a spectacular flowering which, in addition to giving a touch of color to any garden, perfumes it with the sweet aroma that its flowers give off.
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Main features of Lilo
The lilac is a bush or small tree which generally does not exceed 4 or 5 meters in height. It is medium growing and is always a good option for any garden, they look great in small corners or large areas and always stand out when grown amongst other species.
trunk and branches
It is a tree of very branched habit with the trunk covered with a dark greyish bark which is smooth in young specimens and fissures longitudinally in older specimens.
Sheets
Lilac leaves are deciduous, medium in size, 4-12 cm long and 3-8 cm wide. They are oval and lanceolate in shape, with entire margins and a showy light green color.
flowers
It is the most characteristic and most spectacular of Syringa vulgaris. It begins to bloom in early spring, its flowers grow in very dense panicles or large clusters, full of small tubular flowersmauve or lilac.
the flowers of Syringa vulgaris They have a very pleasant delicate aroma.
Fruit
The fruit of the lilac is a capsule or dry fruit, smooth and brown in color about two centimeters long which, when ripe, splits into two halves to release the two winged seeds that it houses inside.
care of Syringa vulgaris
Syringa vulgaris is a tree that need to live abroadeither in the ground or in large pots adapted to its size, because it needs the cold of winter as much as the heat of spring to complete its cycles.
Although he is known to be a very cold climate species the truth is that it thrives best in warm regions and with not too harsh winters.
Although it is not exactly a rustic species, with some simple care we will be able to keep it healthy for a long time.
Ideal location of the common lilac
Your ideal place is full sun, although it does not suffer in semi-shaded spaces as long as they have good lighting. It can thrive in a shady environment, but it will not grow optimally and will most likely be fail to flower.
the type of soil
It is not too demanding in terms of the type of soil, it likes clay and sandy soils, but it prefers neutral or alkaline soils that have good drainage which allows it to maintain humidity without stagnation.
read more: What type of soil do I have in my garden?
Irrigation
He has one great need for watertherefore watering must be frequent, especially during the flowering season and during the hottest months to keep its roots well hydrated.
It is essential to prevent the earth from drying out between watering and watering. combinations water it 3 to 4 times a week in spring and during the warmer months and twice a week the rest of the year.
read more: how to maintain and care for your irrigation system
subscriber of Syringa vulgaris
During the flowering season and in the fall, it is recommended to apply fertilizers with irrigation to maintain the soil with the necessary nutrients for the next cycle.
A very complete formula valid for all types of ornamental tree species is this NPK 12-8-16 solution. For convenience, apply between 300-500 grams per treedistribute evenly on the base of the trunk, and repeat the operation every 45 days until the beginning of autumn.
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Cut
For its characteristics, Syringa vulgaris it’s a tree that does not need pruning. In fact, it’s not recommended. In the case of wanting to cut a branch to give it shape, it will have to be done during the winter, a period when it is in its vegetative rest and in a non-severe way.
In the rest of the year, it will suffice to remove spent flower clusters and without damaging the branches. If we can outside of winter, we could ruin it, or even prevent flowering.
read more: crop pruning, sanitation and vigor
When and how to plant Syringa vulgaris
The best time to plant or transplant lilac is in the fall or early spring, when there is no longer any risk of frost. A few weeks before, we will have prepared the soil, aerating it and adding humus, which will provide the necessary nutrients for the specimen to thrive.
Lilac Pests and Diseases
The most common pests that can attack lilacs are Mites and mealybugs, both can be treated with specific pesticides for each.
As far as diseases are concerned, we can see affected by powdery mildewdisease caused by a fungus that can be easily cured with a fungicide.
Another much more worrying disease is virosis, a condition that covers the new leaves with yellowish spots that eventually deform them and kill them, it is a disease that has no cure and whose only solution is to cut down the tree.
Multiplication
The easiest, fastest and safest way to get new copies from a copy we already have is by cuttings.
In the spring we will select a green shoot about 10 or 15 cm long that we will cut and impregnate at the base with rooting hormones then we will plant it in a pot with vermiculite that we will always keep humid.
In four to six weeks, the cutting will have taken root and we can transplant it to its final location.
Lilos can also be obtained from graftsbut it is a rather difficult system to achieve, more suitable for professionals.
cultivars of Syringa vulgaris
As with many trees and plants, various hybrids, varieties or cultivars have been obtained from the main species, mainly to obtain different flowering colors. Some of them are:
- Syringa vulgaris Etna: With burgundy red flowers.
- Syringa vulgaris Vestale: With pure white flowers.
- Syringa vulgaris Masséna: With intensely fragrant, dark purple flowers.
- Syringa vulgaris Sensation: With purple flowers with white edges.
- Syringa vulgaris Primrose: With creamy yellow flowers.