Power to the purple
Relevant offers
Home and Garden
Lilacs are coming into bloom now and are a sight to behold. Lilacs, aka syringa, are hardy trees that produce masses of pretty, fragrant flowers from mid to late spring.
Most lilac trees have dark green leaves, while the flowers range from white to various purple shades. The usual colour is a shade of purple (often a light purple), but white, pale yellow and pink and even a dark burgundy colour occur.
Syringa is a genus of about 2025 species of flowering plants in the olive family (Oleaceae), native to Europe and Asia. More than 1500 hybrids and cultivars are available ranging from two to 10 metres tall. An easy to grow, largish shrub, lilacs prefer full sun and fertile soil and once established they prove very hardy.
Allow a couple of years for them to establish before pruning. To encourage lilacs, remove all flower heads before they develop into flowers in the first year. In the second year, remove 75 per cent of all flower heads before they develop.
During the flowering season, if flowers begin to fade, remove them. Also remove any suckers.
Prune any crossed, diseased or weak branches as soon as flowering is finished. Lilacs can be propagated from cuttings.
TIPS:
Use fertiliser in early spring and after flowering.
Keep the base free of grass and weeds.
Deadhead when flower colour has faded.
Don't prune unless necessary.
- © Fairfax NZ News
