All About Lilac – History, Meaning, Facts, Care & More

Lilac is a treasured plant because of its good fragrance. But aside from that, lilac has a rich history. Here are some of the information that you need to know about lilacs from its history to taking care of them in your garden.

 

History of Lilac

The scientific name for Lilac is Syringa vulgais and it derived its name from the Greek word “syrinks” which literally means pipe. Its scientific name didn’t just derive from nowhere. In fact, it has a rich history and it originated from ancient Greek mythology. There was one god of forests and fields named Pan, who was deeply in love with a nymph named Syringa. He wanted to pursue her so one day he went to the forest where Syringa was. But Syringa disguised as a lilac shrub so that Pan will not see her. So Pan was so surprised that he couldn’t find Syringa there but he found a shrub and turned out that it was a lilac shrub so he cut the reeds and made a pan pipe.

 

Lilac Flower Meaning

Lilac first originated in Southeastern Europe and it is actually a very famous part of the Mediterranean culture. It blooms during the Easter Holiday which is why it is often associated with that season. Lilac meanings vary in different cultures and it diversified through time. In fact, during the Victorian era, when you give someone a Lilac, it meant as a reminder of an old love to the point that windows during that time wear it. In Russia, when you hold a shoot of Lilac to a newborn would actually bring wisdom. In the U.S., on the other hand, the Lilac flower is considered the official flower of the New Hampshire state and it symbolizes the hardy characteristic of their people.

 

Facts About Lilac

1. Lilacs have 1,000 varieties growing around the world and it is known as the Queen of Shrubs. It can live for 100 years.

 

2. When you want to give someone a hand bouquet of Lilac, this flower is a great choice as it represents first love and symbolizes youthful innocence.

 

3. Lilacs are edible and you can actually make your own lilac salad.

 

4. The name Lilac comes from the Persian word “lilaq” which literally means flower and it comes from the family as the olive or Oleaceae. It is officially the state flower of New Hampshire.

 

5. Lilacs are usually produced in spring. Each lilac flower can grow 5 to 10 mm in diameter. They are monoecious which means it has both the female and male reproductive organs. The usual color of the lilac flower is violet but you can also find other colors like white, yellow, light blue, and pink.

 

6. Lilac flowers grow in huge panicles which means each branch has more than one flower. Many species of lilac exude a strong but beautiful smell.

 

7.Lilac bloom for only 3 weeks which makes it one of the flowers that have the shortest time to bloom that is why it’s perfect for bouquets because they are easy to plant. And when they are in full bloom, a lot of butterflies and hummingbirds embellish them.

 

How to Grow Lilacs

Lilacs are easy to grow as long as you know how to do it. There are over 100 species of lilacs growing and all of them can grow either in bushes or trees and produce a fragrant smell. Here are the ways on how to grow your lilacs at home.

 

1. When you go to a nursery, make sure to pick lilac bushes. Pay attention to the full-grown height of the Lilac. Some varieties differ in height, Superba lilacs, for example, can grow into 6-foot bushes while Syringa reticulata can grow as tall as 30-foot trees. You may also buy readily made container-grown plants from your local garden shop. Ask their florist or staff which variety of lilac is best to grow in your area.

 

2. Pick an area where you can put your lilacs. Make sure they get full sun at least 6 hours a day with good air circulation and well-drained soil. If you put them in a spot where there’s stagnant air and without enough sunlight, they will be prone to catching diseases. Also, if the soil is not properly drained, the tendency is that lilacs will not grow as desired. Avoid planting your lilacs beside a wall or tree. Lilacs need to be spread out when planted to get enough nutrients.

 

3. Ideally, your lilacs should be planted in the early spring or fall. Just dig a hole just enough to bury the roots and its base should sit at ground level. After that, fill it up halfway with soil. But before filling up the rest with soil, make sure to put water first. The soil where you are planting the lilacs must be rich in nutrients. If not, you can add some compost or fertilizer to the hole before planting them. You can buy them at your local garden shop.

 

How to Take Care of Lilacs

Taking care of your lilac is the second most important thing to remember because no matter how good your soil is if you do not know to take care of them properly after planting, your lilacs will not flourish.

 

1. Water your lilacs regularly especially during summer where the weather is too hot. When it’s the rainy season, water them less.

 

2. Apply fertilizer especially during spring. But even if it’s not spring, if you start to notice that the soil is not in good condition, put fertilizer immediately.

 

3. Trim your lilacs regularly. Trimming them helps increase good air circulation. Do not be hesitant to cut some of the largest and oldest branches that you can see especially those who are close to the ground. Cut off also dead flowers that you can see to avoid the formation of seeds.