Lilac in our country is perhaps the most popular type of ornamental shrub. They plant it in the front gardens of small country houses, and next to residential cottages. This unpretentious plant requires almost no care and perfectly tolerates both severe frosts and drought. There are several types of lilac. In addition, recently breeders have bred a huge number of its varieties. About which of them should be chosen for decorating the yard and how to grow lilacs, read the article.
A bit of history
We'll talk about what types of lilacs are a little later. First, let's figure out where, in fact, this plant came from.
In Europe, lilacs began to be grown only in the 16th century. For the first time, the French ambassador from Turkey brought her to the Old World. Initially, this ornamental plant was grown only in royal gardens. However, due to its unpretentiousness, lilac spread very quickly throughout the country. From France, lilac was brought to Austria, and then to England. Later, this plant received recognition in Russia.
Lilac: species
The most popular varieties of this ornamental shrub are Hungarian, Chinese and Amur lilacs. The first two types are not the most attractive. They are often grown in shady areas.
It is impossible to give a clear answer to the question of how many types of lilac exist in nature in general. To date, several thousand are known. There are 30 main varieties often used for landscaping courtyards and streets. Consider what features differ in the most popular species.
Hungarian lilac can reach a height of 3-4 m and is considered a good stock for most old varieties. Wild lilac grows in Hungary, the Carpathians and Yugoslavia. There are two of its garden forms. They have pale purple and reddish purple flowers.
Chinese lilac is a hybrid of common and Persian lilacs. In fact, this is not a variety, but a variety bred a very long time ago, in 1777, in France. Three types of such lilacs are considered the most common: purple, pale purple and dark purple. The latter is considered the most beautiful.
Amur Lilac
In Russia, in nature, this ornamental shrub grows in the Amur region, in the Urals, in the Arctic and in Arkhangelsk. All wild lilac species in Russia and other countries prefer well-lit areas. They quickly sprout and are quite decorative. The Amur lilac growing in the Far East is no exception to this rule.and in China. It is a multi-stem tree, in natural conditions reaching a height of 20 m, with a very dense spreading crown. This is one of the few varieties of lilac that feels great when planted next to a pond. Most often, the Amur lilac is used in group bands for landscaping cities and towns.
There are other, less common, but also quite beautiful types of lilac: drooping, small-leaved, Preston, etc.
Lilac varieties
Breeders were quite active in this ornamental shrub. What types of lilacs are, you already know. Let's see what popular varieties of this plant exist. At the moment, a fairly large number of them have been withdrawn. When choosing the most suitable summer residents and owners of country houses, they usually focus on the color of the panicles. Of the most common varieties with purple flowers, one can distinguish:
- Vesuvius. This is a lilac with purple-red panicles 8x18 cm and a pronounced aroma. The flowering of this variety is moderate, and the bush is not too tall and rather compact.
- Violetta - lilac with dark purple double and semi-double large flowers. The bushes of this lilac variety grow very tall.
- Cavour. This is one of the darkest purple varieties. Its inflorescences are very large, broadly pyramidal, reaching a length of 24 cm.
The most popular types of white lilac:
- Vestal. Lilac with pure white flowers, collected in large (up to 20see) multi-apex panicles.
- Joan of Arc. Terry variety with white flowers, with a very pleasant smell. The bush does not grow too high. Blooms profusely.
- Madame Abel Chantane. Also a double variety with milky white flowers. Inflorescences can reach a length of 24 cm and a width of 20 cm. This low shrub is currently considered one of the most beautiful.
From pink and red varieties of lilac can be identified:
- Belle de Nancy. The flowers of this variety of the plant are lilac-pink, with a silvery tint, double and very fragrant. This variety is good for cutting.
- Gaya-Water. The inflorescences of this variety are raspberry-pink, very dense, up to 30 cm long. The bush can reach a height of up to 2.5 m. Flowering is plentiful.
- Beauty Nancy with pale pink flowers that have a beautiful silver hue. This variety is considered one of the best terry varieties of this color.
- Sensation. The flowers of this lilac are purple-red, with a clear white border. They have almost no smell.
Varieties and types of lilacs (photos with names can be seen in the article) are very diverse. The color of the panicles of this plant varies from very light to dark. Shades even in ordinary purple varieties can be many. When choosing, you need to pay attention, including the size of the inflorescences. Of course, the larger they are, the more beautiful the bush looks.
The choice of seedlings of such a plant as lilac, whose species and varieties are unusually diverse, is a simple matter. Can be planted onplot lilacs with panicles of the same color or different. In any case, this plant will please the eye, and in the spring it will fill the yard with a pleasant delicate aroma.
Reproduction
All types of lilac are propagated either vegetatively or by seeds. In the first case, cuttings, grafting or layering are used. Varietal lilac can only be propagated vegetatively. The cuttings are usually cut during the flowering period, a little coarsened. However, domestic gardeners most often breed lilacs with layering. The best landing time is September-October. You can carry out this operation in the spring, but preferably earlier - in late March or early April.
Where is the best place to grow
Varieties and types of lilacs (photos with names clearly demonstrate the beauty of these plants) are diverse. The choice of meta for bushes must be made in compliance with some rules.
The soil for lilac is suitable for slightly acidic or neutral loamy or sandy loam. You can not plant this plant where groundwater comes too close to the surface. It is not recommended to choose for this plant and areas with too nutritious soil. In this case, the plant will not develop roots and bloom. For the same reason, lilacs are not fertilized.
In the northern regions and in central Russia, this ornamental shrub is usually grown in sunny places. In the southern regions, partial shade is chosen for it. If the light is too intense, the lilac flowers begin to fade.
How to plant
Lilac planting is a very simple matter. The seedling should have a root system of about 25 cm in diameter. Underthey dig a square hole. The length of its side should be twice the diameter of the root system. You can add a little peat to the soil taken out of the pit. The seedling is planted with roots on the bottom and sprinkled with soil. The trunk circle is trampled underfoot. Next, make an earthen roller and carefully fill the plant with water.
On cloudy days, lilacs can be planted in the daytime. In sunny days, this procedure is usually done in the evening. Lilacs, species and varieties (photos illustrating the article confirm this) which are actually beautiful and numerous, in this case it will feel much better and will be accepted faster.
How to propagate lilac cuttings
This is also a fairly common method of reproduction. The length of the cuttings should be about 15 cm. The lower leaves must be removed from them. The rest are cut in half. Also, the top of each cutting is removed at a right angle. Further, the planting material prepared in this way must be placed for 16 hours in glasses filled with a concentrated aqueous solution of heteroauxin (150 mg per liter). Then the cuttings are washed and planted in the shade in a specially prepared soil. The latter is made by mixing 1/4 high-moor peat, 2/4 lowland and 1/4 coarse-grained perlite. Previously, crushed stone drainage (10 cm) and rotted manure (15 cm) are poured into the landing site. The layer of the actual soil mixture should be 5 cm. Sand must not be added to it. Lilac, species and varieties of which in most cases are very hardy and take rootwell, it has a not too developed root system. In the sand, the cuttings will not hold well.
The distance between the cuttings is usually 5 cm, between the rows - 10 cm. Planting is carefully shed and covered with polyethylene stretched over the frame. They begin to ventilate the cuttings in 1.5-2 months, opening the greenhouse in the evenings. Watering is done no more than once a week. In the fall or spring of next year, the cuttings are transplanted into the yard or garden.
Lilac care
At first, a seedling planted in a permanent place must be watered periodically (as the soil dries up). In rainy weather, it is not necessary to moisten the soil under the plants. The adopted bush will grow on its own. No types of lilac practically require watering and fertilizing. The only thing is that the soil in the near-stem circle will have to be weeded for the first time - until the bush grows a dense crown.
How to trim
All kinds of lilacs differ in unpretentiousness. Growing them is a procedure that does not take time at all. Only in the spring, most likely, it will be necessary to prune the bushes - very often the lilac gives two trunks. Such plants do not look too neat, so the second trunk is usually removed from the bush.
The actual formation of the bush is done by trimming branches that stick out and grow inward. This operation must be carried out in the spring, not earlier than in the second or third year after planting. They also remove frozen branches, if any, and shoots.
The second pruning is done immediately after flowering. This time, all dry panicles are cut off. If they are left, the bush will not look very neat.
As you can see, a plant like lilac does not take much time. She practically does not require self-care. At the same time, all types of lilacs are distinguished by high decorative qualities. This explains their extraordinary popularity.
