“And because the breath of
flowers is far sweeter in
the air (where it comes
and goes
like the warbling of music)
than in the hand,
therefore nothing is more fit
for that delight
than to know what be the
flowers and plants that
do best perfume the air.”
Francis Bacon 1561-1626

Although they are not exactly on top of a drought tolerant plant list , I have seen lilacs blooming out in the middle of nowhere- where they have received no summer water, no care, no nothing. The books say they need moderate water in our zone, but again, I beg to differ. And since they are an old-time favorite of so many, because of their incredible and unmistakable fragrance, I thought I’d just say a word about them.

New residents moving from much colder climates remember lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) effortlessly blooming in early summer and are likely to ask you to plant some. Go ahead! Just be careful about where you put them. Although lilacs grow and perform well in our area, they are often planted in southwest or west exposures, where they can struggle and/or burn in our scorching, “broil setting” afternoon sun. An east or northeast exposure will provide these beautiful shrubs with all the sun they need to bloom. Remind your customers that lilacs do not like acidic soil. Dig in some dolomite lime when planting and re-apply yearly by working into the top 6″ of soil.

Since most lilacs bloom on year-old wood, prune them right after flowering, removing spent flower heads back to a pair of leaves. Growth for next year’s blooms starts here. Be patient! Heavy blooming can take 3-5 years after planting, but it’s worth the wait. Just remember to plant them with other later-blooming shrubs-they are pretty plain when not in flower.

Finally, I’d like to address the “old wives’ tale” about getting more blooms by putting ice on the plants in winter: Prune correctly, correct acidic soil, and leave the ice cubes in the freezer. Don’t forget a nice mulch layer to keep roots happy.
And one final thought about the lovely, fragrant lilacs: I think they bloom around tax-time just to make people feel better…ahhhhhhhhhhhh.