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Lilacs are one the great Ottawa landscape plants! There are many reasons to love them with their sweet perfume and those beautiful amethyst – hued blooms that butterflies adore. Not only do they grow most anywhere there is lots of sun, they are generally tough as nails, require no maintenance and have relatively few insect or disease problems. For more on lilac care, click here.
If you are shopping for a lilac shrub, consider the Preston Lilac ‘Miss Canada’– developed right here in Ottawa at the Experimental Farm. These lilacs are distinguished by their late season of flowering (early June) which follows the more common May-blooming French lilacs. At maturity, this lilac will grow to be around 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It is a bit leggy, has a medium growth rate, and a life expectancy of 30 years.
Botanical Name: Syringa
Genus: Syringa
En français: Lilas
Blooms:
Sun / Shade:
Water: If it gets very dry, give a thorough soaking with a hose
Pollinators:
Care:
Another terrific option is Bloomerang Lilac which first blooms in late May, takes a short break in June, and then starts up again in July to September. Its flowers are a pretty shade of pale purple that deepens a bit during the second re-bloom. And while the common French lilacs can grow into large, lanky shrubs over 10’ tall, Bloomerang stays a more compact 4-5’ tall.
A third option to consider is the Dwarf Korean Lilac Standard – a tree form of the lilac shrub which grows about 6-8’tall on a slender tree stem. These lilacs are best when under planted with shorter shrubs or perennials to create a ‘layerd’ effect. With their globe of pinkish-purple blooms, the dwarf lilac tree makes an excellent landscape feature plant or focal point in a butterfly or hummingbird garden.
The two most common mistakes I see when it comes to lilacs are location and pruning. First and foremost, if they don’t get enough sun, they’ll simply grow leaves and refuse to flower. The second issue comes from pruning. Since lilacs form their flower buds in the summer, pruning in the fall or in the spring will eliminate the May/June floral display. Pruning is rarely required, but if you feel you must, be sure to do it immediately after the lilac blooms have faded in June.
Discover the fascinating trees, plants and shrubs of eastern Ontario! Join Ottawa Field Naturalist Club's Owen Clarkin on a tour to Oak Valley, Merrickville, and Constance Bay – featuring a population of wild Swamp White Oaks, the world's largest Rock Elm, Red Spruce, and rare species like Butterfly Milkweed and Hairy Puccoon.
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Canadian Serviceberry’s stunning white spring flowers turn an outstanding orange in the fall. It’s blackberries are a valued source of food.
To eat my Red Malabar spinach, I pull the leaves off the vine at staggered intervals and enjoy it in a salad or as a treat in a stir-fry.
Join a horticultural society to meet other gardeners, learn how to prepare your fairy garden for winter, and find out what to do with damaged pots! Get useful tips for keeping your garden alive and beautiful during the winter months and make sure your plants are in top shape for spring.
Discover the fascinating world of aphids, from their life cycle and impact on plants to their crucial role in the garden ecosystem.
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