The Sweet Scent of Lilacs

Lilacs are among the most beloved plants in the U.S., and their sweetly scented panicles of flowers are something that gardeners the world over look forward to every spring. Lilacs date all the way back to 16th century European gardens; and westward pioneers would bring along cuttings of their prized specimens to plant once they settled in their new home.

Lilacs are deciduous plants actually related to the olive family and other scented plants, including privets and jasmine. But the flowers of the Syringa species are the showiest. In fact, sometimes the stems are so heavy from the weight of the blooms that they nod, giving the plant an arching, graceful appearance.

Many lilacs are hybrids between the common lilac and other species. The subtle differences such as size, color and flower shape allow gardeners to use them in almost any situation. In cold regions, lilacs do best in full sun locations, while in hot summer areas they perform best shaded from the afternoon sun.

Lilacs come in a variety of colors that will please even the most discriminating gardener. Flower colors range from true lilac, red lilac, and lavender-lilac to blue, pink, purple, white, creamy yellow and even variegated selections.

Most lilacs don’t need to be pruned at all, but if they require a little shaping it's best to prune them immediately after they bloom. Lilacs do best with regular watering, although once established, they don’t usually require water more than once per week. They are fairly pest and disease resistant and look their best when fed every two months starting after the blooms are finished until the end of summer.

We have a great selection of lilacs available in the nursery now. We invite you to visit us and select your plants before they find a home in your neighbor’s garden!

Clematis vines have long been valued for their great clusters of large and delicate blooms. Long popular in English gardens, they continue to grow in popularity stateside. More than 200 species occur naturally throughout the world offering an amazing variety of colors and flowers forms. And each year, new choices are made available to consumers by international breeders with flowers spanning the entire color spectrum. While some clematis varieties are evergreen most are deciduous and go dormant in the winter. 

Although it takes most clematis a few years to become established, they are fairly easy to care for once they mature, providing masses of blooms throughout much of the growing season. They have one shared requirement and that is their need for support. They can be attached to fences, trellises, arbors, gazebos, garden objects or other companion plants such as climbing roses or tall shrubs with similar needs. 

Clematis prefer to have their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun for at least 5-6 hours per day. They prefer rich, fast-draining soil amended and their roots protected by a layer of mulch. It’s important to water clematis regularly, especially in hot weather. Most varieties will continue to produce blooms repeatedly, provided they are fed every 4-6 weeks during the growing season and decorative seed heads are removed after each bloom cycle. 

We have a great selection of Clematis just waiting to find a new home in your garden. Click here to see our gallery of clematis. Better yet, we invite you to visit us and see how spectacular and versatile these wonderful plants really are. They are truly is the queen of vines.