Lilac Trees
What You Need to Know about Lilac Trees
When hearing people talk about spring flowers, you may hear the term “lilac trees” mentioned. This is a term that could be confusing, so it may help to know a few facts about lilac trees in order to know what it actually refers to when you are seeking a particular plant.
There are over 1,000 varieties of lilac bushes; many of which grow to reach as high as 10 feet tall if growth is unchecked. With the height attained by some of these bushes, some people mistakenly call them “lilac trees”. Proper pruning would keep the lilac bushes at a controlled height that will also promote profuse blooming. When pruned back, lilac bushes will expend effort into producing new “shoots”; young limbs that will after a year or two begin to grow buds and blooms as well. Without pruning, a bush can certainly grow to such a size where they could easily be called “lilac trees”. The original stem will grow thick and woody, and fewer new growths will emerge as all of the lilac’s efforts go toward maintaining its current tall limbs.
While lilac bushes can never actually become “lilac trees” regardless of their appearance and height, there are true lilac trees. These are normally called tree lilacs, and come in several different varieties. The Japanese tree lilac, the Peking tree lilac and the Ivory Silk are a few examples of trees that can achieve heights of 30 feet. The leaves of these trees have the same appearance as shrub lilacs, and spring blossoms are conical shaped clusters of small flowers in various colors that emit a sweet fragrance identical to that of shrub lilacs. The Peking tree lilac is not native to the United States but is widely available at most nurseries.
The term “lilac trees” can be mistakenly attached to any of the many varieties of lilac bushes. The fact that lilac bushes will not eventually become trees is one that many who have never tended lilacs would not know instinctively. Unfortunately, some of these who believe that lilac trees are the end result of bushes may miss out on the opportunity to enjoy these aromatic beauties, thinking they may not have the space required for a tree in their landscaping. For those who are truly seeking lilac trees, the bushes would be a poor substitute in that blooms would decrease as the overgrown shrub matured; a true tree, however, would bloom profusely even as it grew to its expected height.
Anytime the term of “lilac trees” is mentioned, the first step is to determine if the speaker actually means a very large lilac bush or an actual tree lilac. By doing so, you will be able to ensure that you will be receiving the plant you are actually seeking.