There are a few gardens that do not include lilacs. Yet few contain the kinds that best enhance the garden picture throughout the year.
The common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, its white-flowering variety, S. V. alba, and the numerous so-called “French hybrids” (Ludwig Spaeth,’ Charles Joly, ‘Ellen Wilmott’ and ‘President Grevy’) are practically indispensable in their proper places.
Their proper places are wherever their handsome blossoms and superb fragrance can be enjoyed to the utmost during late May and early June.
Their less attractive features of mildew-susceptible foliage, frequently awkward habit of growth, and immodest legginess should be at least partially screened from view during summer, fall and winter. They make good background hedges.
Other lilac species, of which the Persian lilac is the most familiar and best example, are far superior as landscape material for various situations in today’s small, intimate gardens.
Several of them possess a high degree of garden value, by which I mean that they blend readily into mixed plantings with other shrubs, small trees, and herbaceous perennials; present a neat and ornamental appearance at close view during all seasons; are entirely hardy and require little cultural attention.
Graceful Persian Lilac
The Persian lilac, S. persica, is a notably graceful shrub of moderate stature. It blooms freely and fragrantly and blends exceptionally well into almost any setting.
It is so amenable that it can be planted almost anywhere to fulfill several purposes: as solitary specimens, at the corners of foundation plantings, beside gateways and entrances, and in the forefront of shrubbery borders, to mention only a few.
A mature Persian lilac rarely exceeds 6′ feet in height with a spread of 6′ to 7′ feet. Symmetrical in habit with numerous slender, somewhat pendulous, twiggy branches starting close to the ground, it looks as neat in the winter silhouette as it does during the growing season.
Its cloak of small, pointed, dark blue-green leaves presents a foliage texture of optimum density and softness.
When this foliage is embellished over the whole shrub with a profusion of airily loose, lavender to lilac-colored, spicily scented blossoms, the total effect approaches the perfection gardeners dream of achieving.
The individual flower panicles are about 3″ inches long. They begin opening a few days later than the common lilac and last almost as long.
Syringa Persica
Syringa persica, a native of Iran (Persia) and western China, was introduced into Western gardens around 1640 at about the same time early American colonists were transplanting the first common lilacs to these shores.
Although classified as a species, the Persian lilac is thought to have resulted originally as a cross between Syringa laciniata and S. afghanica.
The rarer, cut-leaf Persian lilac should be called S. laciniata rather than S. persica laciniata, as frequently happens. This cut-leaf Persian lilac with its finely divided leaves is a gem of unsurpassed beauty.
There is a white-flowering Persian lilac, Syringa alba persica, which differs only in the color of its blossoms and in the slightly smaller size of the shrub at maturity.
Strong Chinese Lilac
Somewhat similar in general appearance but with coarser leaves and reddish-violet flowers, producing a strong and not universally admired scent, is the Chinese lilac, S. Chinensis, or S. rothomagensis.
It is a hybrid of persica and Vulgaris, sometimes called the Rotten lilac because it was first raised in the botanical garden in about 1777.
Two less well-known species produce pink flowers, which is attractive enough to make them popular with most gardeners even if the shrubs did not have the added merits of ‘neat foliage and habit, hardiness, and the case of culture.
They are the Daphne lilac, S. micro/41)41a, and the Pink Pearl lilac, S. swegiflexa. For all practical purposes, they differ only in their tints of pinkness. If you have space for only one, perhaps the first name is slightly preferable.
Daphne Lilac
The form of the Daphne lilac usually planted is Syringa microphylla Superba. The shrub attains a height of 5′ to 6′ feet with at least equal spread.
It has slender, fairly twiggy branches well covered during the growing season with leaves only inches long, oval, and sharply pointed, pubescent beneath but clear green on their upper surfaces. The plant is native to China.
This Daphne lilac owes its English name to the opinion held by some that its fragrance resembles that of Daphne cneorum, the garland flower.
A few people object to its scent at close quarters, but most gardeners approve of it.
The single, pink flowers are borne in trusses averaging three inches long. Those at the top of the shrub are the largest, and those on the sides gradually diminish in size toward the ground.
In prolific bloom in the same season as Persian lilacs, the plants usually produce a second, less lavish crop of flowers in late summer or early fall.
In both seasons, the display is distinguished by a two-tone effect as the mahogany-red buds open into soft pink or rosy lilac flowers.
Pink Pearl Lilac
The delicate fragrance of the Pink Pearl lilac, S. swegiflexa (sometimes spelled “swegiflexa”), is universally appreciated.
The many bloom trusses are soft coral-pink with a pearly translucence responsible for the plant’s common name.
It resembles the Daphne lilac in general appearance except that it grows a little larger, sometimes reaching 7′ feet in good soil.
Comparatively late in blooming, it extends the lilac season well into June. The sparse information I have found on its history says that it originated in Germany in 1935.
Korean Lilac
The dwarf Korean lilac, discovered in 1917, is a peer of the Persian lilac in garden value. But its low, broad, compact habit of growth adapts it to a different range of landscape uses.
It is useful for planting in front of taller shrubs to create a smooth transition to a flat lawn. It also makes a good minor accent at corners and in promontories of herbaceous perennial borders and foundation plantings.
It fits snugly beneath low-skilled windows and serves well at outside corners to merge the mass of the large shrubs or conifers, usually planted there, into the lawn.
Although I became acquainted with the Korean lilac a few years ago under the botanical name of S. palibiniana, I believe S. velutina is more approved by the experts.
It has also been listed as S. kamibashi or kamibayashi. Regardless of the specific title under which you may acquire this little shrub, you will probably soon consider it one of your choicest plants.
Although old plants in their native Korea are reported to be 8′ to 10′ feet tall, Korean lilacs grow only three feet high with about the same spread in American gardens.
It makes a compact, dark green mound generously ornamented from late May into June with enjoyably fragrant, deep lavender to nearly purple single flowers in conspicuous panicles 3″ to 5″ inches long.
The crisp oval leaves of rich green vary from quite tiny to four inches long with wavy margins. If there is a reflecting globe in your garden, try planting three Korean lilacs around its base.
At least one American nursery offers Korean lilacs grafted onto standards about 3′ or 4′ feet high. Because the shrub is naturally compact and symmetrical, these little “trees” require minimum pruning.
Even when planted in severely formal settings, they may be permitted to bloom freely and flagrantly before being subjected to their annual “haircut.”
These few lilacs, which I like especially well, are by no means the only good species. There are many others, perhaps including some better adapted than any of these to your particular requirements, but these should at least serve as samples to tempt you to try a few lilacs other than the common one in your garden.
44659 by E. S. Henderson