Fragrant and


beautiful lilacs with Canadian roots


Photos and story by Hugh Skinner


Syringa vulgaris 'Mme Limoine'. A


s long as people have gardened in Canada they have planted lilacs. These plants are prized for their


beautiful trusses of fragrant flowers. Large sweet-scented bouquets remind us of grandmothers, mothers and gardens of the past, but recent developments are definite improvements on the lilacs of our grandmothers’ gardens. Lilacs are sturdy plants that manage to


thrive in varied types of soil, but good drainage is a must. They prefer nearly neutral rich soils that have been well enhanced with compost. If the drainage is poor you can still


grow them by planting in beds that are raised above the surroundings. Sandy soils or stiff clay soils should be amended with organic matter. For best bloom, plant lilacs in full sun


and prune the spent blooms as soon as they fade to prevent seed formation. Pruning to remove damaged, dead, and diseased wood, and thinning suckers and wild twiggy growth will promote health of the plant. For best bloom, thin out up to a third of the oldest stems each year when lilacs are dormant: mid-fall or early spring. In urban landscapes plant modern


S. patula 'Miss Kim' Lilac.


38 • Fall 2016


dwarf varieties as foundation plants, use medium sized shrubs in perimeter beds or plant Japanese tree lilac as a small tree in the front or back yard. If you have


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