Lilac Ideas, Tips & Guides

Q: Is this a good time of the year to plant lilac? And if so, could you please recommend some varieties that don’t grow too large? JK, Dublin

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It’s unusual to find a shrub or tree with blue flowers, so if you’re looking for a shock of blue to light up your garden, look no further than a ceanothus. When in flower it’s a stunning sight, smothered in flowers in shades that range from powder blue to deep azure.

From delicate lilacs to deep purple and burgundy, these Purple Tulip Varieties have something for everyone. Stay tuned.

As February unfolds, deciduous trees stand in a state of dormancy, making it an opportune time for pruning. With leaves shed and the tree's energy directed inward, removing dead or diseased branches promotes overall health. Pay attention to the tree's structure, thinning crowded areas to enhance air circulation. While major shaping is best left for late winter or early spring, minor adjustments now can contribute to a flourishing canopy come spring.

Here are the best Ways to Decorate with Indoor Plants to Energize Your Room! Get inspired and experience a soothing and positive home atmosphere.

True blue flowers are hard to find in many gardens although Purple, Lavender, Lilac, Mauve and Violet exist in many shades. Since there are no true blue Roses, Peonies, Dahlias, Daffodils or even Tulips these showy flowers are out. So if you find a good strong blue then stick to it and use it with great abandon.

From the Greek gala, milk, ago, to lead; the plant was used as fodder for cattle and goats and was thought to stimulate the flow of milk (Leguminosae). Goat’s rue. A small genus of hardy herbaceous plants with pinnate leaves, useful for the border. The only species likely to be found in cultivation is G. officinalis, 3-5 feet tall with spikes of bluish sweet-pea‑shaped flowers in summer and autumn. It is variable in flower colour and has several varieties, including alba, white flowers, and hartlandii with larger flowers of a better lilac than the type. Cultivars include ‘Duchess of Bedford’, mauve and white; ‘Her Majesty’, clear lilac; `Lady Wilson’, blue and white flushed with pink.

For many of us, this scenario may sound familiar: You move into a new house and everything is perfect—except that huge rhodie out front that is threatening to swallow the porch. Or, maybe you purchased a gorgeous lilac several years ago and now it is enveloping half the front walkway. I like to call the culprits in these cases the “beasts” of the garden: perfectly wonderful shrubs that tend to get out of hand. Perhaps you planted them at the start of your gardening career; or maybe you simply inherited a property with 1 (or 6) of these beasts already in place. Sometimes, you don’t want to get rid of the shrub completely, but after many decades of being ignored, you need to get things in check. Luckily for overwhelmed gardeners, there are specific ways to get these imposing monsters under control once and for all. True, there are far more beasts of the garden out there than are mentioned here—but you may be able to deal with them in a fashion similar to our three examples.

Orange wildflowers, ranging from the Butterfly Weed’s peachy tones to the California Poppy’s fiery shades, play a crucial role in attracting pollinators, creating a thriving ecosystem in your backyard.

We've enjoyed an exciting season of Color of the Year announcements, from Behr's deep black-gray choice to Pantone's peachy pick to half a dozen brands in between.

Who isn’t transfixed by an avenue of lime trees leading to the green shade of a sitting area, or by a path meandering through low ground covers and into a birch grove? What about the tightly shaped boxwoods that contrast so well with the soft, flowing plant around them? These are architectural plants—ones whose structures give the garden a strong sense of design. They might include deciduous trees with a branching structure that creates year-round interest, or evergreen shrubs whose flowers highlight soft, mounding foliage. Well-considered architectural plants can elevate a garden from ho-hum to “Oh my.” The best of them can replace garden art, serving as a focal point for a collection of plants that needs something extra.

Not only do these pink birds look stunning, but they also play a vital role in balancing the ecosystem. This article will showcase the best ones with a salmon hue!

Spiderworts are one of the most beautiful trailing plants for tight spaces! They are easy to maintain and look spectacular with their vivid colors. Here are some great Tradescantias to Grow in Water for those seeking a touch of greenery with minimal fuss!

We visited Harriet Johnson’s Maine garden last week, but just focused on what she’d planted in a space that had previously been an in ground pool. She mentioned to me that she had other garden spaces too, so I asked if she’d let us visit those as well… happily she agreed, and today we’re getting a tour of the space she calls her fence garden:

I often hear folks say that they hate heaths (Erica spp. and cvs., Zones 5–8) and heathers (Calluna vulgaris and cvs., Zones 5–8), their earlier blooming cousins. The most common complaints are the woody, leggy shape they develop (mostly after years of neglect) and how they outgrow the space they’ve been provided rather quickly. The same people who complain about heaths and heathers admit they have no knowledge of how to care for them (Learn all about caring for heaths and heathers here). But while these plants do need certain conditions and annual care, they are not divas. 

Believe it or not, 2024 is almost here. With a new year comes fresh home design trends. We had to ask: what’s in and what’s out? We turned to a few interior designers and architects for their 2024 home trends predictions. After all, they’re the closest thing to a Magic 8 ball of design.

I am Tingshu Hu from Dunstable, Massachusetts (Zone 5b). I would like to share some pictures of my flowering trees in my front yard.

Wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) is a creeping woodland perennial in the Oxalidaceae family. It’s native to parts of Asia and most areas of Europe, including the UK. It’s used as an indicator of ancient woodland in southern and eastern England.

Purple bulb flowers offer more than just a visual feast; they bring an aura of deep hues to  any outdoor space.

Bob Stefko

Purple Tulip Varieties – From delicate lilacs to deep, regal hues, the world of purple tulips offers a captivating range of shades that can transform any garden or floral arrangement into a sea of royal splendor!

Have you ever marveled at the intoxicating fragrance of Greek Flowers as you walked through a lush Mediterranean garden? Keep scrolling to unravel the mysteries of Greece’s most iconic flowers and their remarkable significance!

These Purple Carrot Varieties come with a twist – offering the best combo of color and taste! Keep on reading the explore the tastiest ones!

Lavender and lilac are two popular flowering plants that are often compared for their beauty, fragrance and uses. While they share some similarities, there are also several key differences between them that make each unique. Let’s have a look at Lavender vs Lilac!

Wondering How to Grow Ceanothus Joyce Coulter? We’ve got you covered. Read on to learn how to grow and take care of the Creeping Mountain Lilac so you can enjoy its beauty in your garden or landscape.

Rumour that Bees are in terminal decline is not borne out in my garden this year. The Bees seem very happy on the blue flowers and I am happy as it gives me an excuse to show some more blue photographs (of flowers!).

Alpine or border Campanulas come in many species and varieties.

Lilacs are members of the Syringia family and are named for the colour. There are deep lilacs verging on violet and light pinkish lilacs even some pretty floriferous white flowering Lilacs.

I like this combination of Aquilegia and Honeysuckle. The lobed leaves offset the spiky flowers.

It looks like a good year for ‘Blossom Dearie’ and no more so than with Syringa the various Lilacs in the varied shades of lilac and white.

Sorry if this post is a bit repetitive from one at the beginning of May but my mind is socially distanced from my memory. My garden lilac has never smelt so good but I am sure the colour has been stronger in previous years.

Unless they are overgrown, lilacs don’t need much pruning (except the “musts” for every woody plant we all agreed recently that we’d keep up with, removing dead, diseased and damaged woody, or any that’s just not well-placed).But by doing a little pruning (read: cutting bouquets of flowers to enjoy) you do the plant a favor, and prevent the ugly aftermath of lilac-blooming season, those dried-up trusses that persist forever, or so it seems.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,000 NAMED LILAC CULTIVARS, and I grow just a handful. But in early May, I feel as if I’m positively surrounded by them–one of the great joys of a Northern garden, where the climate suits these popular spring shrubs.

T HERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON it’s hard to know where to focus the eye, or the camera. And then I remembered: mid-May is when the indescribably beautiful, subtle “other” peonies bloom: the species peonies, real spring shade-garden treasures. So up the hill I went, up into one of the shrub borders above the house, to say hello to Molly the Witch,Paeonia mlokosewitschii.

We all know what makes lilacs fabulous – it’s those spring days when you’re walking outside and you suddenly get a whiff of a heavily floral fragrance.That’s when you look around and, yep, your lila