Stories come from settler’s diaries of taking cuttings of lilacs, transporting them across the rough, unsettled country and then planting them at the door of their newly established homesteads in order to remind them of home. Quite a journey for a plant whose roots originated in Europe and Asia!

But lilacs are fabulous shrubs, and the ones in this area will be starting to bloom shortly.

Lilacs have quite a history. They were known and recorded as long ago as 1562 in Vienna, although some historians put their origins even farther back in Bulgaria and Greece. Many others came from Asia, mainly China. Hardy in most climates and thriving especially well where there is a significant cold spell in the winter, they have survived over time and geography. The original word “lilac” comes from the Arabic “laylak” or Persian “nylac,” both meaning blue. It’s one of the ironies of modern language that the current connotation of the word “lilac” is more usually associated with a purple hue, rather than a blue one.

A member of the olive family, lilacs come in many colors, shapes and sizes. Double lilacs first appeared at the end of the 19th century during the Franco-Prussian War by Victor Lemoine. The 20th century saw the introduction of many of the popular varieties from Asia, most notably Miss Kim.

Botanically known as “syringa,” they all like alkaline soil, which makes them especially suited to this area. In most landscapes, lilacs will require full sun or at least 6-8 hours a day and may need 2-3 years in order to establish themselves and begin to produce full-sized flowers with good color. Fertilize your lilacs with a good, general purpose fertilizer to encourage the foliar growth and the flower production. If well fertilized, they will generally grow very fast. Lilacs are very hardy and will tolerate winters down to minus 30 degrees, and in fact, most flower better with a winter chilling period. Just like people, lilacs don’t like wet feet, so plant them in a well drained area.

You can rejuvenate old lilacs by cutting their large branches back drastically - about 1 foot from the ground, then letting the new ones fill in. This will reduce the flowering for 2-3 years but will result in a much better plant in the long run.

There are many good lilac choices for our area, depending on what your preferences are. They range in height from small lilacs (such as Asian varieties) to lilacs that grow very large. Old-fashioned lilacs are probably some of the best known and come in white and purple. Old Fashioned Purple is fast growing and lasts a human’s lifetime, often outliving the person who planted it. The Old Fashioned White is a popular variety with heart shaped foliage and needs winter chilling so it also does well in this area.

Another good purple choice is Donald Wyman, whose flowers are purplish lavender and who is a late bloomer. This lilac’s flowers bloom about two weeks past others, often appearing in early June. By including this lilac in your garden, you can easily extend your lilac season.

Monge is a well known lilac that results in a medium-size shrub of 10-12 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide. Its flowers are single purple and are very showy. This is a good choice for cut flowers, as the blooms last long after they’re cut.

Lilacs aren’t always lilac or blue or white, however. A number of other colors are available in this plant. Ludwig Spaeth has reddish purple flowers and are good for cutting. Pocahontas has maroon-purple flowers, is a profuse bloomer and is exceptionally hardy and vigorous. Charles Joly has red spring blooms and is a fast grower.

The Asian lilacs are especially nice for those who don’t have the space or want the huge shrubs that some can become. Miss Kim and Dwarf Korean are two of the best choices. These are lower maintenance than the common lilacs but still produce fragrant, lovely blooms. I’ve had a Miss Kim lilac planted in the yard of every home I’ve owned because the flowers are so lovely and the fragrance so wonderful in the spring.

Lilacs live forever if cared for properly, so be sure to plant yours in a place where future generations will enjoy their color and fragrance. As with antique roses, many lilacs remain in ghost towns all over the West as testaments to those who came before and planted them from carefully tended and transported cuttings. And each year, enjoy and share your lilac harvest- they are such prolific bloomers that there are always plenty to go around!

Gail Vanik can be reached at 970-565-8274 or by email at [email protected].