Growing and Enjoying Lilacs: The Queen of Flowering Shrubs
Mark DeBard
"Growing and Enjoying Lilacs: The Queen of Flowering Shrub"
May 4, 2022
4-5:30 p.m.
Programming note: This lecture event will begin with remarks from Executive Vice President and Provost Melissa L. Gilliam and the introduction of the newest Emeritus Academy members.
Lilacs are often considered the queen of flowering shrubs, but as a queen, cultivating their richness and color takes patience and education. This talk will focus on the practical details of lilacs in a logical, scientific format with colorful visuals of the flowers. Starting with their geography and importation problems, we’ll learn the 4 main types (Series) of lilacs along with their most common species and how to differentiate them. We’ll see bright, rich pictures of the best-cultivated varieties (cultivars). Then we’ll learn color classes, get growing and maintenance tips, address insects and diseases, and learn about propagation, pruning, and sizes. We’ll see how to preserve cut lilacs and learn about their fragrances, oils, and perfumes. We’ll look at the diverse festivals, public collections, and sources of lilacs. Finally, we’ll conclude with a look at the multipetaled cultivars and information on the Register and Photo Database of all cultivars.