table of contents
- blossom
- Varieties and flowering times
- Lilac bush does not bloom
For many, the warm season begins with the lilac blossom, because the lilac bush usually shows its bloom in May. However, there are also varieties that bloom sooner or later. Therefore, by cleverly combining the varieties, you can create the lilac Lengthen flowering.
Syringa, the botanical name of the lilac, is a genus of plants from the olive family (Oleaceae). About 20 to 25 species are counted to the genus. There are an estimated 300 varieties of lilac in total. Syringa is often confused with the buddleia, botanically Buddleja. Although the two genera may look similar due to their panicle-shaped flowers, they are not related to each other.
blossom
When a lilac bush blooms depends a little on the variety. Usually, however, the timing of flowering is between May and June. So it is an old and traditional custom to give a beautiful bouquet of lilacs on Mother's Day. In mild weather, the plants can begin to bloom as early as the end of April; in poor weather, flowering sometimes shifts until the end of May. The duration of the lilac bloom is between four and eight weeks, depending on the variety.
Varieties and flowering times
When does lilac bloom?
Below are the flowering times of the most popular lilac species:
Common lilac (p. vulgaris)
The classic and its varieties bloom in May.
Hyacinth lilac (p. hyacinthiflora)
The hyacinth lilac usually shows its bloom before S. vulgaris, so already in April. In mild weather and in regions with a mild climate, it can also begin to flower at the end of March or the beginning of April.
Chinese lilac (p. chinensis)
The lilac variety unfolds its blossoming splendor only in May. It has arched overhanging panicles of flowers.
Canadian lilac (S. x perstoniae)
This lilac variety blooms from mid-May at the earliest. The hybrid is considered to be particularly hardy and is therefore very suitable for colder regions.
Korean dwarf lilac Miss Kim (p. patula Miss Kim)
The flowering time of "Miss Kim" is from May to June. As a dwarf lilac, it only grows up to two meters high.
Hungarian lilac (p. josikaea)
This lilac variety blooms around the same time as the classic lilac varieties, i.e. in the merry month of May.
Pearl lilac (p. swegiflexa)
The time of flowering starts a little later for pearl lilacs, namely in June. Its flowering period extends into July.
Meyer's lilac "Palibin" (p. meyeri Palibin)
This special variety belongs to the dwarf lilacs and unfolds its blossoming splendor in June.
Bow lilac (p. reflexa or S. komarowii)
The bow lilac, also known as Komarov's lilac, is in full bloom in June.
King lilac (p. chinensis)
The flowering period of the king lilac starts a little later than that of the common lilac. Flowering only begins in May when the weather is particularly warm. The king lilac usually blooms from June to July.
Tree lavender (p. reticulata)
The Japanese tree lavender blooms from June to July. Its flowers smell of privet.
Autumn lilacs (p. microphylla)
The main bloom of the autumn lilac is between May and July. However, unlike many other types of lilac, its flowering lasts until October.
Lilac bush does not bloom
If the lilac bush does not develop its blooming splendor, there can be various reasons. Usually the causes are:
- too dark location
- unsuitable soil
- too little or too much fertilizer
- too strong or incorrect pruning
- Late frost
The solution to the problem or Action, of course, depends on the cause, unless late frosts have frozen the buds. If the location is too dark and the plants like it very sunny, the only thing that helps is moving the bushes. This is also the case if the soil is unsuitable for the shrubs. For example, if the soil is too poor, a handful of horn shavings will help.
tip: Use horn shavings sparingly, because this fertilizer contains a lot of nitrogen, which actually prevents the formation of flowers, but promotes foliage. The latter, in turn, is very important for flower formation.
If the two causes of location and soil can be ruled out, then you should pamper the plants with a generous dose of ripe compost before budding. If you pruned the shrub before flowering, then you have probably cut off the buds that were already in place. Since the lilac bush already buds in autumn, you should always cut it shortly after flowering. And here, too, we recommend: less and more often is more!
