Lilacs are wonderful shrubs for our Zone 3 Canadian prairies. Each spring their fragrant blossoms grace our landscapes and table tops as we celebrate the return of warm temperatures and a new growing season.
Let’s talk about some interesting facts about Lilacs, the best location for growing Lilacs, and which Lilacs are the best for zone 3 gardens.
Facts about Lilacs
Lilacs, with their fragrant blooms and nostalgic beauty, are celebrated harbingers of spring in temperate gardens., here are some interesting facts about Lilacs:
Lilacs are a member of the Olive family. Sounds exotic, right? Other relatives of this group include other aromatic shrubs like Forsythia and Jasmine.
Lilacs (genus Syringa) are deciduous shrubs or small trees, native to southeastern Europe and eastern Asia, that thrive in regions with cold winters. From there, they were brought to grace royal courts across Europe & Asia.
It is thought that Lilacs made their way to North America with the early settlers of the 1700s. Lilacs are well suited to our climate, most boast of a zone 2 & 3 hardiness, handling our -35C winters with ease.
Their genus name is Syringa, meaning ‘tube’, which is a reference to the shape of the individual flowers.
Lilac flowers are a collection of individual trumpet shaped, 4 lobed florets that range in colour from white to shades of purple lavenders and red lavenders. Lilacs make lovely cut flowers, lasting up to 5 days in fresh water.
Lilac shrubs are low care and long living once they are established — up to 70 years or longer — which made them a great landscaping option for the prairies during the days of homesteading. They are still a wonderful landscaping option today.
Lilacs are considered to be deer-resistant because deer find their fragrant leaves and flowers unappealing. Lilacs also have a slightly bitter taste, which is not a deer’s first choice when other perennials are a much sweeter tasting option.
Lilacs make a good early spring flowering addition to the pollinator garden, bees love their trumpet shaped flowers.
Lilac flowers have a sweet taste and one of the newest trends is using the florets to make simple syrup and jellies.
The Best Location for Growing Lilacs
Lilacs are deciduous shrubs or small trees that can grow as high as 13-15 feet (4-4.5 m) and as wide as 23 feet (7 m). Their leaves are dark green, smooth, and heart shaped.
Lilacs can take a while to establish and get flowering, sometimes up to 5 years, so site selection is important.
The Best Conditions for Optimal Lilac Growth:
- Lilacs need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day to thrive.
- Lilacs grow best in well draining soil, they don’t like to have their feet wet.
- 2-3 inches of mulch helps to keep their roots cool and retain soil moisture.
- Water lilacs regularly during periods of drought, their leaves will wilt when they are dry.
- Lilacs don’t like to be crowded, so give them ample space to grow, noting the specifics of their dimensions on their label.
- Too much fertilizer can inhibit flowering by changing the focus of their growth from bud development to lush green leaf development rather than flowering. After the first or second year of growth, Lilacs generally don’t need added fertilizer if they are growing well. If you would like to fertilize, use a balanced slow release fertilizer (10-10-10 or 5-10-10) only in early spring as growth begins.
When to Prune Lilacs
Understanding when Lilacs set their buds is not only a question of horticultural curiosity but is also essential for proper pruning and care to ensure a spectacular floral display.
Lilac buds—destined to become next year’s blooms—are set well before the appearance of their famous springtime flowers.
After the Lilac’s spring flowering, the plant immediately begins the process of setting new buds for the following season. This typically occurs in late spring to early summer, often from late May through June, depending on the local climate and variety of lilac.
During this time, the plant directs its energy into the formation of both leaf and flower buds. These buds harden off over the summer and persist in a dormant state throughout autumn and experience winter’s cold, ready to burst open when warm temperatures return the next spring.
Because Lilacs set their flower buds soon after blooming, the timing of pruning is crucial.
Pruning too late in the summer, autumn, or winter will remove the flower buds and result in reduced or absent blooms the following year. For this reason, gardeners are advised to prune Lilacs immediately or within 2 weeks after their spring bloom, before new buds have had a chance to form.
The precise timing of bud setting can shift based on:
- Climate: Cooler regions may see slightly later bud development.
- Lilac Species or Cultivar: Some varieties may set buds earlier or later than others.
- Plant Health: Stresses such as drought or nutrient deficiency can delay bud formation.
Lilac Variety Recommendations for Plant Growing Zones 3 and 4:
Amongst the oodles of Lilac varieties available, let’s talk about a three general types of Lilacs that work well for the Edmonton area (Zone 3):
1. French Lilacs
French Lilacs are an older or heritage class of Lilac, they are also called Common Lilacs and there are plenty of different varieties within this class.
French Lilacs are best suited for an acreage-type of landscape where you need to cover a lot of real estate.
- French Lilacs grow to be quite large. Heights range from 8 feet to 15 feet (2.4m – 4.5m) and width ranges 10 to 15 feet ( 3m – 4.5m), depending on the specific variety.
- They have large blossoms, are heavenly fragrant and last well as cut flowers.
- French Lilacs also sucker, so if you are looking to cover a lot of space, this is advantageous. If your yard is smaller, this may the ideal pick.
- ‘Sensation bicolour’ is a newer variety with purple & white florets.
- Other varieties to consider are ‘Agincourt Beauty’, ‘Beauty of Moscow’, ‘Bridal Memories’, ‘Katherine Havenmeyer’
2. Preston Lilacs
Preston Lilacs were originally hybridized by a woman named Isabella Preston at the experimental farm in Ottawa, Ontario.
- Preston Lilacs are smaller than French Lilacs, growing up to 10 feet tall (3m) and 8 feet wide (2.4m), again, depending on the variety.
- These are fragrant, profusely flowering shrubs.
- Preston lilacs tend bloom about 2 weeks later that common Lilacs.
- ‘Royalty’ – is a newer variety with large, classic, dark purple flowers.
- Other varieties are ‘Coral’, ‘Donald Wyman’, ‘Holger’, ‘Minuet’, ‘Miss Canada’
3. Dwarf Korean Lilacs
Dwarf Korean Lilacs are native to northern China and Japan and are late spring bloomers known for their compact, rounded form with dense, dark green foliage and abundant, fragrant lavender-pink flowers.
- Because of their dense, tidy, mounded shape and low maintenance requirements, this class of Lilac is a good option for planting in smaller garden spaces, they work well as borders and in mass plantings.
- Preston Lilac shrubs have a smaller growth pattern, averaging height and width up to 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5m).
- Their fragrant blossoms emerge in middle to late spring.
- ‘Bloomerang®’ is a newer series of Lilac varieties produced by Proven Winners – this has a secondary rebloom in August.
- Other varieties are ‘Miss Kim’, ‘Little Leaf’, and ‘Tinkerbelle’
Summing Up Lilacs
Lilacs light up the spring landscape with beauty and fragrance and are perfectly suited for our prairie landscape. As new varieties continue to develop, there is now a perfect Lilac for any yard.
Which one will you try?
More to Explore
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- The Best Smelling Flowers to Grow in Your Garden
- 5+ Ways to Create A Thriving and Pollinator-Safe Garden
- Choosing the Perfect Peony Variety for Your Garden
- 10+ Amazing Annual and Perennial Flowers to Grow in Full Sun
© Sharon Wallish Murphy © Gardening with Sharon
