Tips For Growing The Mild Climate Lilac
 (Read 250+ times)
By Glory Lennon
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For the northern gardener having Lilac ( Syringa vulgaris) around the yard is almost a given. They thrive in our chilly climate bursting into bloom come spring to perfume the entire neighborhood. Only the humidity seems to be a bother to them but only if we don’t give them the air circulation they require to stay healthy and free of that pesky powdery mildew to which they are prone.
But those poor people in mild climate areas aren’t able to grow Lilacs. They haven’t had the privilege of seeing Lilacs grow 8-12 feet tall and equally wide with those lovely, fragrant purple blossoms. Of course they do have orchids and other tropical plants that we northerners can keep only as house plants if we’re lucky. That should be enough for both of us. Alas, many think not. Just as we long to have a palm or orange tree in our chilly landscapes the mild climate gardener longs to have a beautiful Lilac with those enchanting heart shaped, bright green leaves and those pretty cone shaped flower clusters scenting their warm air.
For the longest time mild climate Lilacs were merely a dream, something unattainable to the warm weather dweller. That dream is now a reality. A hybridizer by the name of Walter Lammerts made sure of that when he created “Lavender Lady” and “Angel White” two of the first and best mild climate Lilacs. Now there are about a dozen Lilacs which bloom without the usual winter chill.
While your average Lilac’s requirements are well known those of the mild climate ones differ ever so slightly. With this in mind let us go over some tips for successfully growing the mild climate Lilac.
The arid west may have soil more hospitable to the Lilac than back east, one which is leaning to the alkaline side. While Lilacs can grow in just about any soil, heavy clay, sandy and good rich soil alike, it doesn’t ever do well in soggy areas. Thus the dry, gritty soil of the arid west or southern California desert, for instance, would be pretty darn perfect for these Lilacs just as long as the gardener provides it with ample water and a good mulch around the roots especially while it gets established.
In dry climate regions the risk of powdery mildew may be reduced but it is still a threat. Planting your Lilac with plenty of room around it, therefore, will discourage this menacing ailment. You should also avoid planting the Lilac near lawns which are watered year round. In order for the mild climate Lilac to bloom abundantly it needs to be somewhat forced into a dormancy of sorts by depriving it of water for a few months. This will encourage it to produce the buds over this simulated “Winter” period.
The mild climate Lilac still needs tons of sun and regular watering. The first three years after planting the young Lilac your main concern is to get it established and that requires regular watering. Once that happens and it is a happy camper you’ll be able to force it into a dormancy state if you need to. It will go into a natural dormancy in cooler areas. In areas similar to the climate of southern California where there is no winter to speak of, this process of depriving it of water should begin in September until late February or early March when the buds should start to swell. If there is not much in the way of rain do water it a bit or it may die completely before it blooms.
At the tail end of winter the Lilac should get a bit of fertilizer. Either bone meal, blood meal or an organic type would be best but if you must there are commercial brands you could use. Relatively soon after you start to water it again it should bloom. Only prune the Lilac directly after it blooms to encourage bushiness and so you don’t cut off the blooms for next season.
The cultivars you will want to look for are known as the Descanso Hybrids developed mostly in southern California.
“Angel White” has a white blossom with a mild scent growing on the upper branches. It grows 8-10 feet high and is very bushy.
“Lavender Lady” grows 8-10 as well with flowers in a lavender color but the fragrance is much stronger.
“California Rose”, a vigorous growing bush with profuse flowering, also 8-10 feet high, with mildly scent medium pink flowers.
“Sylvia Beauty” grows a bit bigger at 10-12 feet high with slightly more open pink flowers.
“F.K. Smith” grows very much like “Lavender Lady” but the blossoms are a lighter color.
“Blue Skies” is a heavy blooming 8 foot high shrub and will bloom without forcing dormancy. Lavender flowers are highly fragrant.
“Esther Staley” (S. hyacinthiflora) is a rounded shape 8 foot high shrub with richly scented, pure pink blossoms.
“Excel” (S. hyacinthiflora) blooms like mad as early as late February or early March. Flowers are a light purple and nicely fragrant.
Now that these lovely mild climate Lilacs are available to the gardeners outside the northern United States, there will no longer be a need for envy. That is to say they won’t envy the northerner surrounded by Lilacs because they’ll have their own. We northerners will still be whining about the cold weather. Oh, well. We can’t have everything.
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 For amusing short stories visit http://www.helium.com/users/32782. For an intriguing novelette-in-progress visit: http://www.myspace.com/glorygarden.
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