Top Ten Lilacs

In recent years, traditional lilacs have been joined by many new varieties and there are so many good ones,

- Graham Rice

WHENEVER we think about lilacs, it’s the fragrance that always comes to mind. And although many of the older varieties only last two or three weeks in flower, that delicious scent lingers with us the year round.

Of course, at peak flowering in May and June, the colour is overwhelming and, with the fragrance, we’re almost tipped into dizziness. But the flowers fade and we’re left with the memory of those peak weeks.

Needless to say, the plant breeders’ skills have come to the fore and modern lilacs are very different.

Traditional lilacs – tree sized

The spectacular, super-scented traditional lilacs – invaluable stalwarts of both the cottage border and the grand gardens of manor houses – enjoyed a huge boom at the end of the 19th century when a vast number of new varieties were introduced, mainly from France.

These are mainly varieties of Syringa vulgaris, originally found wild in the mountains of Eastern Europe. All are large, strong-growing shrubs and small trees, sometimes reaching 10ft (3m) or more in height.

Their foliage is unremarkable, even dull, and autumn leaf colour is nonexistent. But their large, pointed, upward facing, cone-shaped flower spikes may reach 1½ft (45cm) long! Packed with small, single or double flowers, they can generate a spectacular late spring show.

Every colour in the range, from pure-white, to cream and creamy- yellow, through traditional lilac shades to purple and reds and a few genuine blues, are all well scented. Many traditional lilacs were given unlikely names, such as ‘40th Anniversary of the Communist Youth League’, or were named by French nurseries for forgotten French aristocrats.

Traditional lilacs – bush sized