Pink forms of common lilac
Syringa vulgaris is normally lilac to mauve, but selections lean pink, such as the double 'Belle de Nancy'. The Syringa x prestoniae hybrids bred by Isabella Preston run mainly in pink and lavender shades and flower later, which protects the buds from late frosts.
Fitting it into an Australian garden
Pink lilac is a plant for the cool south. It wants cold winters, so aim for:
1. Canberra, the Southern Tablelands and the Blue Mountains. 2. The Victorian highlands and Gippsland ranges. 3. Tasmania and the Adelaide Hills.
Warm places like coastal Sydney, Brisbane and Perth rarely provide enough chill, and the shrub flowers poorly there.
Everyday care for pink lilac
- Plant in sun in the cooler months, in free-draining soil.
- Mulch to hold moisture but keep it off the stems.
- Deadhead after flowering and thin out crowded wood.
- Look out for powdery mildew late in summer.
Pink in a bunch
The cut stems last about three to five days. They scent a room well and pair nicely with white stock or roses. Lilac is a spring bloom, so it is not around for Mother's Day in May, when autumn flowers take over.
What pink lilac traditionally says
Pink lilac traditionally suggests friendship and growing affection.
Fertiliser is best kept light. Too much nitrogen gives leafy growth at the expense of flowers, so a handful of slow-release feed after flowering and a mulch of compost is plenty. Water well through the first two summers while the roots settle in.
