Lovely LilacsBy Lisa Evans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History of LilacsLilacs originated in Europe and Asia. They have been in the United States since the 1750's. There are over 1000 varieties of lilacs, with many different colors. Some of the common colors are "lilac" and purple. The color “lilac” is a light shade of violet. Lilacs were very popular in New England and both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had them in their gardens. For people who really love lilacs there is the lilac capital of the world in Rochester, New York. In 1892, a Horticulturist planted many different lilacs in Highland Park. To this day people go to the park for an annual two week long Lilac Festival. The dates for the 2009 Lilac Festival are May 8-17.
Information about LilacsLilacs are shrubs that bloom between mid-May and early
June in hardiness zones 3 and 4. For zones with higher numbers they
grow earlier in the year. Lilacs have a scent that can be very
strong on some plants and not as strong on others. This scent can
also be found in lotions and perfumes. Lilacs like a lot of sun and a soil
that is drained well. Lilacs usually grow to be 10 to 12 feet tall.
Purchasing a lilac is easiest at the nearest nursery. The price
could range from $40-$70 for a 3 year old plant. Lilacs need lots of space
to grow in. The diameter of a lilac could be 6-8ft. When planting a lilac,
the hole should be twice the size of the pot the plant is in. The soil
drainage can be tested by filling the hole with water and then seeing how
long it takes to drain out. If it takes longer than 15-20 minutes to
drain, the lilac will not survive in that spot.
Here are some Lilac names in the format: Name of Plant, Species, Single or Double Flower, Color, Producer or Propogator, Year of Introduction. 'Alexander's Pink' Villosae
Group, single, pink, Alexander Three nurseries in the United States that sell Lilacs, Thanks to: http://www.internationallilacsociety.org/retailers.html
References/SourcesWikipedia 'Lilac' Color Information
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