The landscape of Alaska can benefit greatly from the addition of lilacs. There are close to 40 different varieties of deciduous shrubs and small trees with a genus of around 20 species that can be found in forest and scrub from S.E. Europe to E. Asia, all of which are readily available in nearby Alaskan nurseries. They have attractive form, and the pyramidal or conical panicles of tiny, tubular blooms give off a very pleasant, springtime aroma. The spring gardener can create beautiful, fragrant bouquets using the blooms.
It needs a patient and upbeat gardener to grow lilacs because it can take up to 4–7 years for a newly planted shrub to blossom. However, they have a lengthy lifespan and can reach heights of 20 feet. The most fragrant kind is the common or old-fashioned lilac, which comes in purple, lavender, pink, and white hues. They frequently experience moose attacks and are susceptible to powdery mildew.
Syringa x prestoniae, Syringa hyacinthiflora, Syringa villosa, and Syringa josiflexa hybrids were produced in Canada and selected for their hardiness and big flower clusters. Compared to normal lilacs, they bloom a little later and have a little less fragrance. Canadian hybrids are resilient, avoid powdery mildew in the majority of cases, and flower in the same amount of time as transplanted shrubs. James MacFarland might flower earlier, frequently in the first year. While the common lilac may be identified by its dull green, heart-shaped leaf, they can be differentiated by their dark green, elongated leaves. The majority of Canadian hybrids’ flowers are pinks and light lavenders, while newer kinds also come in vivid purple and white hues.
Dwarf Korean lilacs, Syringa meyeri, and Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’ are a few little shrub lilacs suitable for South-central Alaska. These lilacs produce modest, spherical clusters of light lavender flowers in the middle of the summer and don’t need to be pruned. The blossoms have a strong fragrance. These shrubs are perfect for a small landscape because of their thin branches and compact, glossy, dark green leaves, which contribute to a fine overall texture.
The Japanese tree lilac Syringa reticulata and the Persian lilac Syringa persica may flourish in Anchorage’s hottest areas. Typically, the Japanese tree lilac is grown as a single-trunked little tree that grows to a height of 20 feet. Its attractive, dark brown-bronze bark is a quality all year long, and the midsummer blooms of creamy white are a gift. It has early, pale purple flowers and bluish-green leaves that don’t become taller than 10 feet.
A sunny, well-drained area is needed to plant lilacs. In a bog, they won’t be content. To raise their roots above soggy ground, use raised beds or mounds. When planting lilacs, be mindful of the planting height. Observe the base of the trunks for a natural flare that indicates the correct planting height. Like the majority of other landscaping plants, lilacs dislike being buried too deeply. Lilacs require sunlight. To generate the energy required for flower formation, sunlight is required. The exception is the dwarf shrub varieties, which will bloom in some shade. Lilacs are tolerant shrubs that require only drainage and sunlight. Lilacs are said to be highly adaptable, but other references recommend a specific pH range of 6.5 to 7.5.
Pruning For lilacs, pruning is a lifetime endeavor. The oldest trunks at ground level should be removed judiciously from plants each year to revitalize them. Shrubs benefit from rejuvenation pruning since it preserves them in a healthy, strong growing state. By removing the oldest stems and thinning the newest sprouts, the plant’s center can receive more light and air circulation, which deters illness. Before the plant makes an effort to produce seeds, spent flower clusters should be removed. Fall is when lilacs begin to create bloom buds for the spring display. In light of this, trimming done immediately following flowering removes the fewest prospective blossoms. Even if they are not clipped, lilacs will bloom the following year, but the old bloom that is left on each year is unattractive. Lilacs can also benefit from being pruned like tiny trees, with branches and leaves being cut back to around 1/3 the height of the shrub.
Particle Mildew By the end of the summer, a superficial ailment known as powdery mildew attacks common lilacs. The white powdery fungus is an obtrusive nuisance but does not harm the plant. Powdery mildew will be minimized by sunlight and excellent air circulation. When used as a preventative measure before you notice the white powdery symptoms on the leaves, fungicides are beneficial.
Moose There aren’t many ways to guard lilacs against the ravages of ravenous moose. A 6 foot fence, a wire cage around the lilac, or an abundance of scrub brush accessible as moose food are a few ideas to deter moose from entering the yard. One lilac farmer in Anchorage claims that James Macfarlane and S. villosa are a little less vulnerable to moose gnawing than the common lilac.
Fertilizing A little lime at each of the two fertilizations, and roughly 1 cup of 8-32-16 pellet fertilizer per mature plant just after leaf out in early May.
What creature consumes lilac bushes?
Lilac bushes are not eaten by deer. Deer would generally avoid them because of their offensive fragrance. Never forget though that no plant is completely deer-proof.
Even if lilac plants occasionally and only rarely have seriously damaged kinds, they are still edible.
During the winter or during times when there are few other food sources, deer will probably devour the lilac shrubs. Because deer will gladly eat lilac bushes when they are young, it also occurs then. There’s a good probability that lilac bushes, if they’re native to your area, will end up being a deer’s preferred food.
What is consuming my lilac bush?
Lilac borer larvae, which eat the plant’s sapwood, are the main cause of damage to lilacs. Another pest that harms lilacs is the scale insect, which feeds on the sap of the plant’s leaves, stems, and roots. Lilacs that are severely infested with scales may look sickly.
Is a lilac shrub immune to deer?
Deer are carnivorous animals. They can destroy over 700 different varieties of shrubs, ferns, flowers, and vegetables in addition to eating hundreds of pounds of plant material in a single spring.
Are lilacs immune to deer? Although some kinds of lilac discourage deer more well than others, most lilac variants are resistant to deer. Syringa vulgaris, the common lilac, can reach a height of 20 feet and is hardly ever bothered by deer. Only when there is nothing else for them to eat will you see deer damage.
We’ll talk about several lilac kinds and how well they deter deer in the paragraphs that follow.
In order to give you the best opportunity of enjoying lovely, fragrant blossoms this spring, we will also cover lilac care and maintenance.
Does wildlife enjoy lilac bushes?
Lilacs don’t have any poisonous or irritating substances that could harm people or animals. The University of Wisconsin Extension Service has designated them as nontoxic. For pet owners with lilac bushes, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) offers a warning. To help soothe the animal’s digestive problems if you believe it has consumed lilac bushes, call the Pet Poison Hotline. Lilac bushes might not be poisonous to animals, however animals may get digestive and stomach problems if they consume any plant debris. However, French lilac, which contains the neurotoxic and hypotensive compound galegin and is thought to be fatal to sheep, should be avoided.
Are squirrels able to eat lilac?
Does anyone know if squirrels can safely eat Lilac branches? While my dad was cutting the shrubs, I scooped up a few of the branches and placed them next to the squirrel cage. Prior to putting them in with them, I wanted to make sure they were squirrel-safe.
Grey squirrels will take the bark from the lilac trees and use it to line their dens. My sister always complains about this to me. she has such poor shrubs. Lilac is a safe wood, as far as I’m aware.
I read that they are safe, but I usually double check because my enjoy to eat the branches and the blooms.
Can lilac bushes be eaten by rabbits?
This fall-planted bulb has a distinctly “skunky” smell. Animals will avoid the area since they can smell the flowers or greenery even if you can’t.
When planting, place 1 inch of coarse sand under the bulb since crown imperial needs adequate drainage. And plant the bulb on its side to avoid water from condensing in the top.
Sprinkle fertilizer all around your crown imperials in the early spring as soon as you notice the stems peeking through. Find a general-purpose bulb food with a 9-9-6 analysis. Snip off the blooms once they have faded, but save the foliage to nourish the bulb. After the bulb goes dormant, keep the soil dry.
The big-flowered alliums will still be preparing to put on their display after the deer and rabbits have devoured all of the tulips. The iconic flower in the image above, “Gladiator,” has blooms that can endure up to three weeks. The globes will continue to stand even after the foliage withers, which usually happens before the flowers are finished and the color dries up.
Even if a single specimen is impressive, planting in groups has a greater impact. Per square foot, allow two to three bulbs. They can cost more than other spring bulbs, which is true, but their flowers often persist longer than tulips or daffodils.
Toxic to both humans and other creatures like deer and rabbits, foxgloves are poisonous in all sections. They are aware to leave this plant alone, somehow.
Foxglove with narrow leaves is infamous for dying quickly. By preventing it from setting seeds, you can attempt to extend its life for several years and increase the number of blossoms you get in the process. The plant may use up all of its energy ripening the seeds and die throughout the winter if you fall behind in deadheading and seeds form. If so, allow the seeds to fall to the ground and search for seedlings the following spring. The first year, they most likely won’t blossom, but mark them so you can enjoy the flowers the following year.
Deer and rabbits won’t likely enter a bed in search of food if the edge is made unpleasant to them. This mounding plant looks great in a container or as a low border. Most cultivars feature flowers that are lavender-blue, like this one’s “Blue Pearl.” All of them prefer full light, however in USDA zones 8 or warmer, afternoon shade keeps the color the best.
Not even deadheading is necessary. New growth and flower buds typically cover the old vegetation as the blooms fade. The plant may become a little bit lanky with time. Your plants will start blooming again in a week or two if you lightly shear or clip a couple of inches from the top.
Traffic can be stopped when the flower stalk of this lovely shrub is covered in creamy white bells in the summer. Additionally, it will deter passing hummingbirds from stopping by for a taste of nectar. Deer and bunnies, meanwhile, won’t even nip at the stringy, stiff foliage. The leaves of ‘Variegata’ are blue-green with creamy yellow edges. The evergreen trees’ leaves become rosy pink in the fall.
Spanish dagger is actually a shrub, but because it grows so slowly, most people grow it as a perennial. It will eventually grow a trunk that elevates the leaf rosette after around 10 years, making a remarkable focal point.
Lilacs might be found blossoming carelessly in abandoned lots. One explanation for why lilacs thrive when left alone? Deer and rabbits ignore them in favor of chewing on more appetizing objects.
Here, there are Persian lilacs that are incredibly fragrant and resemble well-known French hybrids. But compared to its well-known cousins, it appears a little bit smaller and more fragile.
The fact that most lilacs bloom for such a brief period of time is their worst flaw. Plant a variety of deer- and rabbit-resistant plants and cultivars. You can do this to extend the season of color and scent for as long as a month.
Do lilac buds attract deer?
Lilacs may be vulnerable in the first few weeks after planting, despite their deer resistance designation. The shrub should live even if it has been nibbled on as long as the root structure is unharmed. A lilac plant can be almost completely destroyed and still recover and thrive. Lilac plants are tough and can actually benefit from pruning, even if it isn’t done on purpose.
Agricultural Experiment Station in New Jersey, “Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance,” 2018
How is a lilac bush revived?
The common purple lilac is a hardy, dependable shrub that can grow up to 20 feet tall. Unfortunately, the lower, shady sections of lilac shrubs typically lose their leaves as they get older. Large, overgrown specimens as a result are frequently leggy and ugly. Pruning can restore or rejuvenate old, neglected lilacs. Home gardeners have two alternative pruning techniques to pick from.
Cutting the entire plant back to within 6 to 8 inches of the ground in late winter is one method of renewing a huge, overgrown lilac (March or early April). A significant number of shoots will sprout during the growth season as a result of this aggressive pruning. Select a few sturdy, robust shoots to construct the shrub’s framework, keeping a few of them, and cut off all the others at ground level in the late winter of the next year. To promote branching, head (clip) back the retained shoots to just above a bud.
Cutting back the overgrown shrubs over a three-year period is a second method for pruning mature lilacs. In late January, start the process by digging up and removing one-third of the big, old stems. The following year, trim out half of the remaining old stems (again in late winter). Additionally, trim out some of the recent growth. Keep a few healthy stems that are evenly spaced apart and cut off the rest. In the third year’s late winter, completely remove all of the old wood. It is also necessary to thin the fresh shoots more. This pruning technique should enable you to take pleasure in blossoms every spring because lilac wood must be three years or older before it blooms.
Within a few years, with the right pruning, an old, overgrown lilac can be converted into a robust, appealing shrub. Pruning should be a frequent component of the lilacs’ management regimen after they have been revived. By cutting a few of the oldest branches every three to five years, the shrub can be kept strong and healthy.
(This article, which first published in the Sunday edition of the Lincoln Journal Star Newspaper in February 2005, has since been amended. Consult the Terms of Use for details on how to copy this content and use any images or visuals.)