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The Kitchen Table

I have Lilacs blooming

schoolhouse_gwagain

last year

It's August 13th. I couldn't believe my eyes awhile ago, so went back and got my camera. These aren't modern varieties of lilacs, they were probably planted in the late 40's or early 50s by my uncle. This happened a couple of years ago too. In fact the other day I thought the shrubs were almost dead, leaves all shriveled and brown, branches looked dead. Suddenly they sprouted new leaves and now blooms!

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

last year

It is not unusual for this occur, generally only with shrubs and a few trees. The reason most often given is abrupt weather fluctuations - hot to cold or vice versa; or drought to rain or vice versa. These appear to trick the plant into thinking it is a different time of year.

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Comments (7)

arcy_gw
last year
We've seen a few like that here. But we see more whose leaves are all drying up and falling off. Last year many bloomed twice too.
nicole
last year
Are they drought stressed? Pretty cool to have RE-blooming lilacs!
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Karyn, It is advertised as 4'-6' tall and it seems to be true. Mine is about 5' now. I bought it 3 years ago online and it was a tiny potted baby. The description says: A dwarf lilac noted for its ability to bloom continuously until frost. Josee is the result of a 3-way cross between S. meyeri, S. patula, and S. microphylla. A hardy lilac that is just the right size for a specimen planting or hedge row. It DOES NOT bloom "continuously until frost" for me, but it does repeat in flushes throughout the season. Overall, I am very pleased with it.
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Comments (10)
Lack of care last year, when they were still new, could definitely contribute to lack of bloom this year. Miss Kim blooms later than the others, as well, noted above. Once they are established they are quite drought tolerant in our climate but yours aren't established yet, so they need some water over the summer. The lilac across the street from me doesn't bloom well most years because they insist on pruning it into a square box. One year they left it alone and it was covered in flowers. This year? there's one flower, deep inside the square. There oughta be a law ...
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colleenoz
last year
I love lilacs. My aunt had them in her garden when I was little, but they're very rare here.
Fun2BHere
last year
How lucky you are to be able to enjoy new blooms...like a little miracle.
caflowerluver
last year
last modified: last year

I was told that you couldn't grow lilacs in California. That was 40 years ago. Sorry if yours are struggling because of the hot weather. We have had very foggy and cool weather.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
Apparently, it makes a difference where you live in California and what kind of lilac. Coastal climates are preferred and Descanto hybrids perform best, as they are both more heat tolerant as well as requiring fewer chill hours than the standard Syringa vulgaris.

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