Lilacs are high-yielding, low-maintenance bushes. In early spring, when the bush is covered with fragrant blooms, the air is filled with the intoxicating aroma of lilacs.
The tall, shady foliage of a lilac bush is a welcome sight on hot summer days. Lilac bushes have a long lifespan. Propagating new lilac shrubs from cuttings is a simple process.
If you take a softwood cutting in June, you should grow a new, miniature lilac bush within two months.
Steps to follow when growing lilac bushes
Stick to these instructions to grow a new lilac from a cutting.
- Pick a convenient time
In the summer, when the plant is actively growing, cuttings of lilacs are taken. The morning is best because that’s when the plant is at its most hydrated.
- Pick strong, healthy stems
Softwood stems, consisting of somewhat matured fresh growth that is not too tender, are cut to a length of 4 to 6 inches. Check for pests and disease-free stems by looking for ones with green, healthy leaves.
- Get the cuttings ready
Leave only two or three sets of leaves on the top portion of the cutting. Just below a leaf’s node, make a clean 45° cut.
- Rooting hormone
To increase the likelihood of successful propagation, dip the cut end of the cutting in a rooting hormone, which you may purchase online.
- Plant the cutting
Put some clean, sterile potting soil into a container. Put the cutting in the soil so that the lower nodes of the leaves are submerged. This should be done at a depth of around 2 inches. Press the earth around the cut gently but firmly.
- Humidify the area
Cover the container with a plastic dome or plastic bag to keep the humidity levels high. This is necessary so that roots can form in the cutting. Nursery pots with humidity domes are available online and are perfect for seed starting.
- Give indirect light
The soil should stay constantly moist but not waterlogged. In addition, place the container in a position with bright, indirect light. Keep the cutting out of direct sunlight, as this might dry it out and prevent it from taking root.
- Track the development
Rooting the lilac cuttings can take anywhere from four to six weeks. After this period, give the cutting a gentle tug to see if the roots have grown.
Growing lilacs from cuttings requires patience, as it can take many weeks for a cutting to root.
It’s important to keep an eye on it and water the young plants gently throughout this period. You want to keep the potting mix moist but not soggy; otherwise, the cutting could rot.
How to take good care of lilac bushes
Mulch lilacs every year in the spring. Midway through the summer, you can deadhead smaller bushes to remove faded flowers using proper garden tools.
After the shrubs have bloomed, it is time to prune them to the appropriate height and form and remove any dead, diseased or dying branches.
To rejuvenate a sagging or overgrown old tree, prune it in the winter when it is dormant. Lilacs benefit from severe pruning; the entire plant can be cut back to within a meter of the soil.
The blooms will not return for at least a year because they bloom on wood from the previous season. You might even eliminate some stems over 2 or 3 years by pruning them back to the ground. This will still give you some spring flowers.
Types of Lilac
- Tree lilacs:
This type of tree matures to a height of 30 feet and bears off-white blossoms. Tree lilacs of the Japanese kind have unusually light yellow blooms.
- Himalayan lilac:
This lilac, sometimes called “late lilac,” features pinkish-red flowers. It can reach a height of 3 meters. A related but darker-flowered species is the Hungarian lilac.
- Chinese lilac:
When it comes to summer screening and hedging, Chinese lilac is a top contender. It can reach a height of 8–12 feet in a short time. Chinese lilacs are a hybrid of European lilacs and lilacs from Iran. Rouen lilac is another name for it.
- Common lilac:
This variety of lilac is the standard bearer for the species. The lilac blossoms are fragrant and showy. A mature common lilac can reach a height of 20 feet.
- Persian lilac:
The average height of this type is 10 meters. The flowers are a light shade of lilac and about half the size of regular lilacs. For a more relaxed hedge, consider Persian lilac.
- Dwarf Korean lilac:
These lilacs are about 1 meter (4 feet) tall, making them ideal for a low, casual hedge. The blossoms look like regular lilacs.
How long does it take for a lilac bush to be fully grown?
A young lilac bush may take up to 3 years to produce its first flowers. When given a good start, lilacs have a long lifespan.
To encourage blossoming the next year, lilacs require rapid pruning after they have finished blooming. Typically, lilacs send forth shoots (suckers) from their bases.
Best place to plant a lilac bush
If you don’t offer your lilacs at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day, they may not flower. Even lilacs prefer soil that is slightly acidic, wet and well-drained. Just before the ground freezes, late autumn is ideal for planting lilacs.
How long do lilac bushes last?
Depending on their care and the conditions in which they are grown, lilacs can survive for 25 years or more.
Will lilacs grow back if you cut them?
Cutting lilacs back to the ground will prevent them from blossoming. The lilac tree in the garden will dwindle to a few bare branches by the end of autumn. It should not, however, be cut down to the ground.
While the tree itself will likely return (lilacs are resilient), it will be many years before you receive flowers again, given that you cut off all the blossoming growth.
If it has gotten out of control, you may need to undertake some major pruning on your lilac. However, you shouldn’t cut back more than a third of the tree’s overall height.
Do lilac bushes bloom more than once a year?
Lilacs are annuals that normally flower in the spring. Selecting from early, mid-, and late-season lilacs will prolong bloom time.
Final Thoughts
Lilacs are stunning plants with fragrant, visually appealing blossoms. They can withstand severe cutting. This makes them ideal indoor plants.
However, the gardener must be mindful of the pot size in order to limit the growth of the plant’s leaves and blooms.
If you want to grow lilacs from cuttings, you need to be patient. If you want your softwood cuttings to root well, you need to take them at the proper time of year and be patient.