Is lilac a shrub or a tree?

Many people are fascinated by the beauty of lilacs. Creative individuals looked for inspiration in this plant. They painted pictures, wrote poems and songs. Flowering occurs in the spring. But quite often people wonder, lilac - bush or tree? What is the correct answer?

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What are the popular varieties of lilac?

Lilac belongs to the olive family. It is related to ash, privet, and jasmine. In the wild, this plant can be seen in the mountains of Europe, China and the east. There are many varieties of lilac. But the most popular varieties are:

  1. Amur lilac. This is a plant that grows up to 20 meters. It can often be found in the East or forested areas of China. It is decorated with small white or cream-colored flowers. Flowering is quite late. This plant is not afraid of frost.
  2. Hungarian lilac. It can grow up to 4-6 meters in height. Its inflorescences are divided into tiers, which consist of purple flowers. This plant does not require special care, tolerates drought well.
  3. Velvety lilac. This is a small plant. The flowers are painted lilac. Flowering lasts only 10 days.
  4. Persian lilac. She doesn't grow tall. Flowers appear later, but flowering is long and abundant.It is worth protecting such lilacs from frost, as it reacts quite sensitively to them.

There are many hybrid varieties. These include Henry's lilac and Chinese lilac. The terry hyacinth variety looks original.

Is lilac a tree or a bush?

It is safe to say that lilac is not a tree, but a shrub. If correct trim her, it looks quite suitable as a decorative tree. But by its nature it will remain a bush. The name “lilac” itself comes from a Greek word. Translated into Russian it means “pipe”.

Some people associate this with the shape of the plant's flower, as it looks a bit like a small tube that is decorated with petals. But there is no exact data. Africa is considered the birthplace of lilacs. For this reason, flowering occurs in May or June, when it becomes especially hot. There are some original varieties that delight you with their flowering twice a year. The second appearance of flowers occurs in August. The lilac bush has more than one trunk. This plant grows quite tall, so it is often confused with a tree.

How to propagate lilacs?

To grow lilacs in your summer cottage, you don’t need to put in a lot of effort. This is an unpretentious plant. In a short time it can take root in the place where it was planted. There are several methods of propagating shrubs that you can use. Reproduction using seeds. Shoots appear quite slowly. Therefore, this propagation method is most often chosen for breeding work when new plants are developed. varieties.

Initially, the seeds are stratified for 30 days, and in the autumn they are planted in furrows.Finally, cover them with a layer of mulch to protect them from frost. It will take at least a year for seedlings to appear.

After this, they are transplanted to a permanent place. Propagation using cuttings. First, you need to cut them off when they bloom. After this, they are placed in moistened sand, creating greenhouse conditions. The main thing is that there is sufficient humidity, as this will speed up the emergence of roots. When roots appear, the plant can be transplanted to a permanent location. You can also wait and leave it for the winter.

Reproduction by layering. Only experienced gardeners can perform this procedure. To get healthy layering, it is worth spending at least 3 years. All vegetative methods make it possible to know from the very beginning what the future plant will be like. But reproduction with the help seeds - This is an experimental method that allows you to create unique varieties.

What conditions should there be for growing lilacs?

Despite the fact that lilac is not a demanding plant, it is still worth following some growing rules. Namely:

  1. Lilac loves light. For this reason, it is recommended to plant it in an open area. If the plant is in the shade, its growth will be slow.
  2. The shrub does not like when moisture is retained. This will lead to rotting of the root system, after which the plant will die.
  3. Lilac is not afraid of frost, but does not tolerate cold winds. Therefore, it is recommended to plant it where there are no drafts.
  4. There should be about 1.5 meters between each bush. If a person decides to create a hedge, then he can plant closer.

Lilac transplantation should be done at the end of summer.This is the ideal time to move the bush from the greenhouse to a permanent location. You can do this procedure in the spring. But this must be done before the kidneys wake up. The bush loves fertile soil. When a plant is replanted, experienced gardeners advise adding compost or peat to the hole. To reduce acidity, ash is added.

When the bush blooms, you should not replant. Otherwise, it may not die or stop flowering for a couple of years. Lilac is a beautiful plant that can be a real decoration in a summer cottage. It will delight you in the spring with its flowering and smell. That's why many people plant lilacs.

Video about caring for lilacs: