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my lilacs (pics)

14 years ago

Hi folks, I planted 6 lilacs last year. The nursery told us that it is Royalty Lilac and that the flowers are purplish in color. However, the flowers I am seeing is color white. I actually also love white but just wondering why I can't smell the fragrant scent. I even put my nose half an inch close to the flowers. I didn't smell anything. Is there something wrong with my lilac?

Other information for my lilac is that it's in full sun maybe 10+ hours of sun. I let nature water them.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Here are some pictures I took this morning around 9am.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
this is current??

my lilacs bloomed out in z5 ann arbor area.. almost a month ago ...

recent transplants do weird things.. but changing flower color is not one of them ... but cultural problems ... can affect flower production ....

give me some facts about why your lilacs are a month late .. and maybe we can take it from there...

ken
v1rt
Original Author
14 years ago
yes, it's current. I took the pictures yesterday morning.

About the facts, I have no idea. I just bought them from a nursery last year. I don't apply chemical fertilizers and not even to my lawn. I have always applied organic but not directly on the trees. They get some when I apply it on my lawn since I used broadcast spreader.

I noticed that too that the bloom was too late. My friend's lilac bloomed last month with a color purplish flower. Is mine really lilac based from the picture? Maybe, I got tricked by the nursery.
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never heard of a L needing any kind of chemicals .. [they dont even need treatment for PM] and i wonder if you are doing more damage slathering on remedies ... than good ... its a recent transplant.. that has not gotten fully established.. probably still suffering transplant shock [yes only one of the 3 for whatever reason] and you may be loving it to death trying to save it ... how about.. for august.. you get rid of the grass... properly mulch it.. and get it properly watered ... dig a small hole and find out if it needs more a less water ... i have slipped from too much rain to near drought in the last two weeks just over the MI border ... dont let your presumptions about long past rain.. cloud your future ... ken BTW: do you have that famous OH clay ... and did you amend the planting hole??? .. were the plants severely pot bound .. etc ..
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v1rt
Original Author
14 years ago
Is it true that Lilacs must be put in shady area? I found that information from here, http://www.ehow.com/how_2187859_grow-lilacs-deep-south.html

My lilac gets sunlight starting 8am and stops getting sunlight around 5:30pm. Is this a problem?
giantslug
14 years ago
The Lilac in your photos is a Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata). They normally bloom much later than regular lilacs. Mine hasn't even bloomed yet.
There is nothing strange happening to your lilac, it's just a mislabelled plant.
Dibbit
14 years ago
However, since the Japanese Tree Lilacs will grow bigger than the S. vulgaris hybrids you thought you were getting, you might want to rethink where they are. From the photos, it looks as though they would be good trees for the location. I am not sure, but they might be a more expensive plant than what you thought you were getting, so if you can live with them, and handle the extra height, you might have the better end of the deal.

If you REALLY don't want them - more height, different plant than you contracted for, lack of fragrance, different time of bloom, etc., then contact the Nursery and ask them to replace them. They may not be willing to, who knows, but you should get SOME redress, if only a steep discount on your next major purchases.
v1rt
Original Author
14 years ago
the nursery is gone, closed business. I'm worried about the height although I don't care about it. I really like it tall. The distance of each are 6' apart. I don't know if it's enough. About the bloom time, it's perfect too because it's early summer and it's blooming. My other shrubs are done blooming. About the purchase, I bought them each for $14 at 5' tall. I was just wondering why it doesn't give out much fragance and the change of color as well. But as mentioned, it was ID'd wrong by the nursery.

I have another question. Why are my lilacs doesn't have enough leaves? I remember seeing one branch, no leaves. What is the proper way of caring for the lilacs?

Thanks for ID'ing my lilac. Now I know what they are. :)

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