These varieties of Lilac are suitable for southern
The main source of this problem is inept gardeners who insist on using drip irrigation, summer water, and soil.
Do lilacs grow in Los Angeles?
I noted a few weeks ago that I had never seen a gorgeous, healthy lilac outside of the frigid high desert or Descanso Gardens, which is located in a cool canyon bottom populated with oaks, in a piece about other back-East species.
I speculated, “Perhaps someone will give me a photo of their lilacs, and I’ll start to believe, but until then, I’ll keep thinking that lilacs look fine next to a granite doorstep in New Hampshire but are a bad option next to a d.g. (decomposed granite) path in Southern California.
South Pasadena’s Donna Potts responded to my challenge by saying:
“I would want to take up the gauntlet after reading your lilac challenge on Sunday.
She provided pictures of a bush that was in full bloom, and I could see the top of a palm tree peeping over the carport in the background, so I knew the pictures weren’t secretly shot in New Hampshire.
She said, “I have a fantastic lilac in my typical California yard, but no decomposed granite path. Although I’m not familiar with the precise kind, they have a lovely scent.
“You are more than welcome to visit and verify for yourself that we can grow anything in Southern California.
Although South Pasadena is not that far from Descanso Gardens, the photo she enclosed is quite lovely.
But the next letter I read came from a Rancho Palos Verdes reader. Lilacs have been blossoming in their garden for the past 15 years, according to E.A. Trabin.
The Descanso peninsula, which has a completely distinct coastal climate, is far away from the Palos Verdes peninsula.
Another image of a young plant in bloom was provided by the Turski family in Venice, another coastal community.
Pete Colato writes from Valencia in the Santa Clarita Valley:
“I read your post while sitting in the garden and taking in the full bloom of my neighbor’s lilacs. I am familiar with lilacs because I grew up in the East, and these are just as lovely as any I’ve seen there.
More images of a bush in full bloom that was almost as tall as their chimney were sent by Larry and Helen Merken in Chatsworth.
Ruth Midyett also shared images of a large, attractive bush that is 25 years old from West Covina. Additionally, readers from Glendora, Reseda, and Thousand Oaks shared pictures.
Nancy Lewis also shared a picture of a lilac bush covered with blossoms from her home in Arcadia, close to the Los Angeles County Arboretum. Her plant is the original “Lavender Lady” Descanso hybrid.
These hybrid lilacs are said to perform the best in Southern California of all lilac varieties. White Chiffon, Spring in Descanso, Mrs. Forrest K. Smith, Descanso Giant, Sylvan Beauty, Pride of the Guild, and King of Descanso are more Descanso hybrids suitable for temperate areas.
Since “Lavender Lady” is the variety most frequently found in nurseries, I think most of the lilacs in the photographs were either that variety or one of these others.
Descanso Gardens responded to my article quickly as well. The volunteer curator of the lilac collection, Rudy Schaffer, asserted that watering, rather than weather, was to blame for my friend’s lilac’s poor performance, which was stated in my article.
He said that stopping watering mild-climate lilacs like “Lavender Lady” after September 15 and allowing them survive only on rainfall is the secret to having blossoms on them. Only plants that have been planted for two or three years are affected by this.
This dormancy-inducing drying out results in good flowers. When the first spring leaf or flower buds appear, you should start watering again.
Because of this, if you’re planting a fresh lilac, keep it away from shrubs or lawns that require irrigation in the winter.
He offered more advice on how to maximise the benefits of a lilac in Southern California:
* To prevent seed pods from forming, remove the old flower spikes after the lilacs have finished blooming. If they do, the lilac will have a poor bloom the next year.
* When plants older than three years have finished blooming, prune and thin them. He added that pruning improves flowering as well.
* Remove twiggy growth to start the trimming process. After that, remove any growth that has emerged from the ground and is no thicker than a pencil. Additionally, remove a couple of the oldest, tallest canes—those that emerge from the ground and are at least 3 to 4 inches thick—by pruning them.
This will encourage the young, robust canes that will produce more blossoms while preventing the plant from growing too tall (so you can no longer smell the flowers).
* To save summer moisture and keep the roots cool, you should additionally treat plants with a 10-10-10 fertiliser or a fertiliser of a similar type around mid-May. After that, cover the plants with a thin layer of mulch.
* In late June, fertilise one more time with a 6-10-10 mixture (if you desire additional growth) or a 0-10-10 mixture or something comparable.
At Descanso Gardens, lilac enthusiasts can pick up a fresh handout on growing and caring for lilacs in Southern California.
I’ll tell my friend who was attempting to plant lilacs in Beverly Hills about this, and I guess I’m now a believer.
The winning argument was made by Monrovia Nursery Co. I had always thought that the Oregon facility of this wholesale grower was where the lilacs were grown. But Azusa is where the nursery grows its lilacs.
How are lilacs cared for in California?
Until the plant gets established, water it well during dry weather. Add a general fertiliser in the spring along with an organic mulch. Tie evergreen limbs and branches to the supports of the wall.
Zones:
The majority of lilac types can withstand cold temperatures in zones 3 to 8, although others, like Scentara Double Blue, can (S. hyacinthiflora). There are some cultivars that don’t require a winter chill, like as “Lavender Lady” (S. vulgaris), which is heat tolerant to zone 9. The majority of others do need a wintertime period of cold and dormancy.
Height/Spread:
The common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, reaches heights of 12 to 15 feet and widths of 10 to 12 feet. The majority of dwarf types are smaller and reach maturity at 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 7 feet broad. Syringa reticulata, often known as the Japanese tree lilac, grows up to 30 feet tall.
Bloom Time:
The majority bloom in late May, however there are new re-blooming kinds, such the Bloomerang series, as well as early spring, mid-spring, and late-season blooming variants.
Color:
The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) has grey to gray-brown bark, purple blooms, and dark gray-green to blue-green foliage (with no fall colour change). But there are actually seven recognised hues for lilac flowers: white, violet, blue, lavender, pink, magenta, and purple, with several variations of each hue.
Other:
True lilacs, such as the California, mountain, and wild lilacs, are truly members of the genus Ceanothus. Butterfly bushes are frequently referred to as summer lilacs, especially sterile and non-invasive varieties.
Do lilacs thrive in warm environments?
Lilacs have wonderful flowers, and for millennia, people have grown them for their delightful scent. They are common in gardens all across the nation. Plant hardiness zones 3A through 7A of the United States Department of Agriculture are suitable for the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris). You might believe you can’t cultivate lilacs if you reside in a region with mild winters. There are types that have been bred specifically for warmer climates, which is wonderful news.
Try one of the unique lilac varieties created for a warm environment if you are in a location with infrequent or no frosts. Some of the unique hot-summer cultivars created by the Descanso Gardens experts in California a little over 50 years ago can be beneficial in warmer regions. Some of these lilacs do lose some of their distinctively potent aroma, while others retain it and can withstand the warmer weather from Southern California to some areas of Florida. Several names to think about are Angel White, Blue Skies, Blue Boy, Dark Night, Chiffon, California Rose, and Lavender Lady. While some of the cooler-climate lilacs can reach tree size at 20 feet or more, the majority of these hybrid lilacs only reach heights of 6 to 12 feet.
- Lilacs have wonderful flowers, and for millennia, people have grown them for their delightful scent.
- Some of these lilacs do lose some of their distinctively potent aroma, while others retain it and can withstand the warmer weather from Southern California to some areas of Florida.
These lilacs will thrive with good drainage, sunlight, and neutral to slightly alkaline soil.
If you’re going to prune lilacs at all, do it immediately after flowering to promote growth for the blossoms that will appear the following year.
If plants become too large, prune back the interior branches gradually over time so that there are still plenty of new growth shoots to produce flowers the following year.
Your lilacs will put on a brilliant display in the spring. Remember to trim the flowers so you may bring them inside. The powerful scent will fill your home with the freshness of spring to go with the enormous, vibrant panicles of bloom.
Lilacs all have a rather brief flowering season. To extend the blooming season in your garden, try utilising different types.
Do lilacs grow in California?
There are various varieties of California lilac for use in landscaping. While some are low-growing, compact groundcovers that rarely grow higher than 6 inches (15 cm), others are upright bushes that reach heights of 8 or 9 feet (2 to 2.5 metres). The vivid to light blue flowers on evergreen plants with small to medium-sized glossy green leaves serve as a decorative accent. In addition to Oregon, California, and Washington, several species of California lilac can also be found as far away as Guatemala.
The Pacific Northwest is home to 12 different species of Ceanothus. For the greatest flowers, these plants demand dry soil and full sun. If you reside in a region where deer are present, protection is necessary because they enjoy California lilac particularly.
The lustrous foliage of ceanothus plants has three parallel leaf veins that give them their distinctive look. While smaller leafed shrubs have serrated, almost holly-like leaves, larger foliaged plants have whole margins.
One of the crucial characteristics of California lilac is its capacity to fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits both home gardeners and the environment. The real star of the show are the flowers. While the majority have deep blue flowers in terminal clusters, certain varieties may have lighter blue, lavender, or even white flowers.
In San Diego, can I cultivate lilacs?
A 15-foot-tall lilac shrub known as the San Diego mountain lilac, or Ceanothus cyaneus, is frequently seen growing in the wild along the southern California coast. This shrub cannot be transplanted and is not frost tolerant. The San Diego mountain lilac is a popular garden shrub in Southern California gardens despite living longer in the wild than it does in domestic gardens due to the fragrant dark blue flowers that cover the shrub in the spring. The San Diego Mountain Lilac has year-round, evergreen foliage that is silvery green in colour.
- Even though the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, prefers a milder environment like that in northeastern California, several kinds can survive the state’s warmer climates.
- The San Diego Mountain Lilac has year-round, evergreen foliage that is silvery green in colour.
Do California lilacs grow quickly?
The popular California lilac, Ceanothus, has practically every feature a gardener could want in a shrub: free-flowering, attractive foliage, simplicity of maintenance, tolerance to salt and drought. These attractive shrubs grow quickly and are noticed for their gorgeous blossoms. A California lilac’s blossoming is a magnificent sight to see. They grow well in most soils as long as they are well-drained, are simple to grow, resist heat, drought, and seacoast conditions, whether they are deciduous or evergreen, mounding or prostrate.
- Ceanothus is a big genus with more than 60 species of diverse and attractive shrubs or small trees that are members of the Rhamnaceae family. Ceanothus is a native of North America, primarily from California, and it rewards us with profusions of fluffy flower panicles in blue, which is the most uncommon colour in nature. Many tints and colours are available, ranging from ultramarine through azure, cobalt, and indigo. A few varieties come in pink or white.
- Depending on the variety, the flowers are produced from the middle of spring till the start of winter. While most Ceanothus bloom in the spring, some also do so in the summer and some in the fall. The beauty of their brilliant blossoms could be appreciated throughout the majority of seasons if you choose the proper Ceanothus kinds!
- The attractive flowers stand out sharply against the typically dark, glossy green leaves of most species. Oval leaves range in size from small to medium, and the majority have serrated edges. Many of the species that can withstand drought well have holly-like leaves with spines.
Are lilacs resistant to drought?
A traditional flower garden, outdoor space, or decorative pot should all contain lilac plants as they are a staple flowering shrub. Zones 3 through 8 are suitable for growing these fragrant shrubs, and they require very little maintenance. Lilacs need at least 6 hours per day of direct sunlight to produce their best flowers. Lilacs benefit from regular watering after initial planting, throughout active growth seasons (spring), and during prolonged dry spells. Lilacs are fairly drought tolerant once they are established.
It is advised to water your lilac plant once every 10 to 14 days from spring till blooming is finished. The ideal irrigation for lilacs is deep, infrequent watering. Make sure the planting space or container has good drainage. These plants don’t appreciate having their feet wet and won’t bloom if they are overwatered. By saturating air pockets with water and reducing soil oxygen levels, excessive water can strangle the lilac tree’s roots. The first indication that the lilac is overwatered is the plant wiggling.