Lilac: description, varieties, cultivation

Most gardeners and summer residents do not imagine their own plot without these beautiful and unpretentious shrubs. Its large brushes are able to revive any territory, and the smell of lilacs (especially on warm spring evenings) is fascinating with its refinement.

Lilac is popular and loved almost everywhere. In natural conditions, it is common in Europe and in Asia (mainly in China).

Lilac: description

These are rather tall shrubs (from 2 to 10 meters), blooming in May or early June. In an adult plant, the trunk diameter reaches 30 cm. Leaves - falling for winter, opposite, peristome-separate or whole.

Inflorescence is a panicle with small bisexual flowers (not more than 10 mm). Color can be varied: from white to dark purple hue. The flower has two stamens. The smell of lilac is pleasant and quite strong.

Fruit is a small, dense, bivalve box of brown color, in which there are two oblong seeds in each leaf. The lilac bush actively blossoms to 60 years.

Landing

Specialists say that even beginners in gardening can grow lilacs on their site. Description of the plant in special publications suggests that it is very unpretentious and does not require complex care.

For these fragrant bushes, neutral soil is most suitable. If it is acidic, then it should be treated with dolomite flour or lime. This procedure is carried out once every three years. Lilac in the garden is best planted on a site where groundwater passes not more than 1.5 meters from the soil surface.

The plant prefers the sun, but perfectly tolerates and partial shade, besides it blooms in this case much more abundantly than in the sun. It is not advisable to choose the sites blown by the wind for planting. The lilac bush is attractive to many more because it does not need to be sheltered for the winter, since the plant is distinguished by its high winter hardiness. But even such a strong and hardy plant has limitations when planting. Raw and waterlogged soils do not tolerate lilacs. The description in the literature indicates that clay soils are not suitable for it.

Reproduction

Garden varietal species multiply in several ways - by layers, grafting, cuttings. If the plant is multiplied by layers, by the autumn you will already have a lilac bush (annual), ready for transplantation. For this, it is necessary to make horizontal furrows near the adult plant, bend branches to the ground and fasten them in this position. From the buds of the shoot, the layers will appear quite quickly. In this case, the mother plant completely retains the decorative properties. Most gardeners find this method the simplest, unlike, for example, from green cuttings. However, not all kinds of lilac can reproduce in this way.

For propagation of the bush by cuttings, well developed shoots are needed. The work is carried out in the summer (June-July). For cuttings, the middle part of the shoot is used.

Care for the lilac: pruning

As we have already said, the lilac, the description of which can be found in all editions on floriculture, does not require complex care. Nevertheless, special attention should be given to pruning the plant. Immediately after flowering, remove all the faded brushes. This is because flower buds appear on summer shoots. If you trim the faded inflorescence in the fall, then next year, in the spring, your lilac will not bloom.

If you need to update the adult bush of old branches with new branches, then this should be done gradually - a year or two cut out one or two branches a year. Today many gardeners prefer the cultural pruning of lilacs. In this case, they leave 6-8 main branches, located a short distance from each other, giving the bush a spreading view, and the rest are removed. In addition, cut out and branches directed into the bush. Thus, the bush acquires a very attractive appearance, especially during flowering.

Species, varieties, hybrids

Until now, botanists have not come to a consensus on the number of species of lilac. Some claim that there are 13 of them, others have more than 30 species. This is due to the presence in the lilac of natural hybrids that appear during crossing in a natural environment, as well as during breeding. Their number is unstable and rapidly increases.

In addition, sometimes science does not know all the "participants" of interspecific crossings. The most famous and popular hybrids of lilac are:

• Hyacinth color;
• Chinese;
• Persian;
• "Henry".

Popular varieties

Variety variety of lilacs is much wider. Today, there are several thousand varieties, which are mostly derived from lilacs of the common. Today, an international classification has been adopted, according to which the varieties are described depending on:

• Flower shape (terry or simple);
• colors.

Common lilac

A small tree or shrub in height from 2 to 7 m. Has a ramified root system. The trunk and branches cover the bark of gray color. On young branches it is colored yellowish or olive. Thanks to a powerful root system, this kind of lilac is successfully used to strengthen the slopes, which are subject to erosion.

Leaves are oval in shape. At the very base they are cordate, with pointed tips. They are smooth and matte. The length reaches 10 cm with a width of 5 cm. They are fastened on 15-centimeter petioles.

Lilac broad leaf

Very similar to her ordinary "cousin", but flowers in smaller colors. In this case, the leaves are larger, and flowering begins a little earlier.

Lilac Hungarian

This is a more compact plant, the shrub of this species does not exceed a height of 4 meters. The leaves are of medium size (8 cm), oval in shape, with a small stalk - only 2 cm. In this lilac the branches are erect. In a young plant they are pubescent. The flowers are collected in multicolored panicles, usually painted in a dark purple color. They have a strong aroma. In natural conditions occurs in the forests of Romania, Ukraine, Hungary.

Lilac Amur

This plant is more like a tree than a bush. Its height reaches 10 meters. In nature it is often found in the Far East. Blooms in late June. Inflorescences fluffy, possessing a gentle cream shade.

Lilacs Persian

And this magnificent plant is not found in the wild. The saplings of the Persian lilac were obtained by breeding, as a result of crossing the lilac with a finely cut one with an Afghan one. A small beautiful tree does not grow more than two meters in height, branches are spreading, drooping.

Inflorescences not very large - 10 cm long and 8 cm wide. Flowers can be white or white-lilac. They have a strong and pleasant smell. Blossoms Persian lilacs for a long time - from early May to June. It is used in single plantings and in groups of several bushes.

Lilac lilac

Many types of lilacs have varieties with double flowers. As a rule, they are double: from one tube with four petals the second grows, the same. In the event that there are fewer petals in the second tube, the lilac is called semi-double.

Lilac "P. Konchalovsky »

One of the brightest representatives of terry varieties, which is considered to be one of the best in the world. The flower is 3 cm in size and has 4 corollas. Very large inflorescences reach a length of 30 cm. Under their weight, branches often wilt.

White lilac "memory of Kolesnikov"

Another magnificent lilac terry. Her flowers look like rosettes. Inflorescences large. The bushes are spreading, the average height is 4 meters. Named after the famous Russian breeder.

Monique Lemoine

Very spectacular white terry lilac. It is classified as the best variety. Flowers large (4 cm), inflorescences large, under the weight of their branches droop. Shrubs of medium size, ideal for a small area.