Lilac: species, varieties, cultivation and pruning (photo)

Lilac in our country is perhaps the most popular type of ornamental shrub. They plant it in the front gardens of small country cottages, and next to residential cottages. This unpretentious plant practically does not require care and perfectly tolerates both severe frosts and drought. There are several kinds of lilacs. In addition, recently a large number of breeders have been bred by breeders. About which of them should be chosen for decoration of the yard and how to grow lilacs correctly, read in the article.

A bit of history

About what kinds of lilacs are, let's talk a little later. First, let's figure out where the plant actually came from.

In Europe, lilacs were grown only in the 16th century. For the first time in the Old World it was brought by the French ambassador from Turkey. Originally this decorative plant was grown only in the royal gardens. However, due to its unpretentiousness, the lilac spread very quickly all over the country. From France, the lilac was brought to Austria, and then to England. Later, this plant received recognition in Russia.

Lilacs: Species

Among the most popular varieties of this ornamental shrub are the Hungarian, Chinese and Amur lilacs. The first two species are not the most attractive. They are often grown on shaded areas.

On the question of how many species of lilac exist in nature in general, it is impossible to give a clear answer. To date, several thousand are known. There are 30 main varieties, often used for landscaping yards and streets. Let us consider the features that distinguish the most popular species.

The Hungarian lilac can reach a height of 3-4 m and is considered a good stock for most old varieties. Wild lilacs grow in Hungary, the Carpathians and Yugoslavia. There are two of its garden forms. They have pale purple and reddish-violet flowers.

Chinese lilac is a hybrid of common and Persian lilacs. In fact, this is not a variety, but a variety that was bred long ago, in 1777, in France. The most common are three types of such lilacs: purple, pale purple and dark purple. The latter is considered the most beautiful.

Amur Lilac

In Russia, this ornamental shrub grows in the Amur Region, the Urals, the Arctic and Arkhangelsk. All wild lilac species in Russia and other countries prefer well-lit areas of the sun. They quickly give shoots and are quite decorative. The Amur lilac growing in the Far East and in China is not an exception to this rule. It represents a multi-barrel 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 near a pond. Most often Amur lilac is used in group strips in the greening of cities and towns.

There are other less common, but also quite beautiful types of lilac: drooping, small-leaved, Preston, etc.

Lilac varieties

Breeders with this decorative shrub were engaged quite actively. What are the types of lilac, you already know. Let's see what are the popular varieties of this plant. At the moment, they are sufficiently large. When choosing the most suitable summer residents and owners of out-of-town dwelling houses usually focus on the color of panicle. Among the most common varieties with purple flowers are:

• Vesuvius. This is a lilac with purple-red panicles 8x18 cm and a pronounced aroma. Flowering in this variety is moderate, and the bush is not too tall and compact enough.
• Violetta - lilac with dark purple terry and half-large large flowers. Growing bushes of this variety of lilacs are very high.
• Cavour. This is one of the darkest purple varieties. Inflorescences in it are very large, broad-pyramidal, reach a length of 24 cm.

The most popular types of white lilacs:

• Vestalka. Lilac with pure white flowers, collected in large (up to 20 cm) mnogoshverinnye panicle.
• Joan of Arc. Terry variety with white flowers, with a very pleasant smell. The bush grows not too high. Blooming is abundant.
• Madame Abel Shantane. Also a terry variety with milky-white flowers. Inflorescences can reach a length of 24 cm and a width of 20 cm. This low shrub is considered to be one of the most beautiful at the moment.

From pink and red varieties of lilacs, we can distinguish:

• Belle de Nancy. Flowers in this plant variety are lilac-pink, with a silvery tinge, terry and very fragrant. This grade is not bad for cutting.
• Gaya-Vata. The inflorescence of this variety is crimson-pink, very dense, up to 30 cm long. The bush can reach heights up to 2.5 m. Flowering is abundant.
• Beauty Nancy with delicate pink flowers, which have a beautiful silver shade. This variety is considered one of the best double varieties of similar color.
• A sensation. The flowers of this lilac are purple-red, with a clear white border. They practically do not have a smell.

Varieties and types of lilacs (photo with the names can be seen in the article) are very diverse. The color of panicles in this plant varies from very light to dark. Shades, even in ordinary purple varieties can be many. At selection it is necessary to pay attention including on the size of inflorescences. Of course, the more they are bigger, the more beautiful the bush looks.

The choice of seedlings of plants such as lilacs, species and varieties of which are unusually diverse, is a simple matter. You can plant a lilac with brooms of the same color or different on the site. In any case, this plant will please the eye, and in the spring it will fill the yard with a pleasant gentle fragrance.

Reproduction

All kinds of lilacs are propagated either vegetatively or by seeds. In the first case, cuttings, grafts or layers are used. Varietal lilac can be propagated only vegetatively. The cuttings are cut usually during the flowering period, a little bit rough. However, domestic gardeners often plant lilacs with layers. The best time for planting is September-October. You can carry out this operation in the spring, but preferably early - in late March or early April.

Where is the best way to grow

Varieties and types of lilacs (photos with names clearly demonstrate the beauty of these plants) are diverse. The choice of meta for shrubs should be done in accordance with certain rules.

The soil for lilacs is suitable for weakly acidic or neutral loamy, or sandy loamy. You can not plant this plant where groundwater is too close to the surface. It is not recommended to choose plants and plots with too nutritious soil for this purpose. In this case, the plant will not develop roots and bloom. For the same reason, lilacs do not fertilize.

In northern regions and in the central strip of Russia, this decorative shrub is usually grown on sunny places. In the southern regions, a penumbra is chosen for him. At too intensive illumination at a lilac begin to burn flowers.

How to plant

Planting lilacs is a very simple matter. Seedling should have a root system about 25 cm in diameter. Under it dig a square pit. The length of its side should be twice the diameter of the root system. You can add a little peat to the ground taken out of the pit. Seedling is planted on the bottom and sprinkled with soil. Prestvalny circle trampled feet. Next, make an earthen cushion and carefully fill the plant with water.

On cloudy days, lilac can be planted in the daytime. In sunny this procedure is usually done in the evening. Lilacs, species and varieties (photos illustrating the article, it is confirmed) which are actually beautiful and numerous, in this case will feel much better and will take faster.

How to propagate lilac with cuttings

This is also a fairly common method of reproduction. The length of the cuttings should be about 15 cm. The lower leaves should be removed from them. The rest are cut off by half. Also, at the right angle, the top of each cut is removed. Then the planting material prepared in this way should be placed for 16 hours in glasses filled with a concentrated aqueous solution of heteroauxin (150 mg per liter). Then cuttings are washed and planted in the shade in specially prepared soil. The latter is made by mixing 1/4 of peat, 2/4 of low-lying and 1/4 coarse-grained perlite. Preliminarily, the drainage from the rubble (10 cm) and the manure dumped (15 cm) fall asleep onto the landing site. The layer of the soil mixture proper should be 5 cm. You can not add sand to it. Lilac, species and varieties of which in most cases are very hardy and take root well, has a not too developed root system. On the sand cuttings will be kept poorly.

The distance between the cuttings is usually 5 cm, between the rows - 10 cm. The planting is carefully poured and covered with polyethylene stretched on the frame. Ventilate the cuttings begin after 1.5-2 months, opening the hotbed in the evenings. Irrigation do not often more than once a week. In autumn or next spring, cuttings are transplanted into the yard or into the garden.

Care of the lilac

First time planted on a permanent place, the seedling must be periodically watered (as the soil dries up). In rainy weather, it is not necessary to moisten the soil under the plants. The bush will grow on its own. No kinds of lilac practically require irrigation and feeding. The only thing - the soil in the trunk circle will have the first time - until the bush grows a dense crown - weed.

How to trim

All kinds of lilacs are unpretentious. Growing them is a procedure that does not take time at all. Only in the spring, most likely, it is necessary to make pruning of bushes - very often a lilac gives two trunks. Such plants do not look very neat, so the second trunk in the bush is usually removed.

Actually the formation of the bush is done by trimming the protruding and growing branches. This operation should be performed in the spring, not earlier than the second or third year after planting. Also remove the frozen branches, if any, and shoots.

The second pruning is done right after the blossoming. This time, cut off all the dry whisk. If left, the bush will not look too neat.

As you can see, such a plant as a lilac does not take much time. It does not practically take care of itself. At the same time, all kinds of lilacs have high decorative qualities. This explains their extraordinary popularity.