Evening star., 1946-05-19
Preferred
AS Background
Garden Shrubs
By Louise Hendey

LuacS are worthwhile hardy
shrubs that make excellent mate
rial for background paintings,
hedge or individual specimens. The
wide range Of types and varieties is
sure to offer something suitable for
almost any situation.
Lilacs are fairly tolerant as to soil.
They prefer a rich, well-drained
loan which is well supplied with
lime. The fact that they can be
found in the very old gardens, often
neglected for long time, assures us
that they will grow and flower in
poor soil and in spite of neglect.
But, as with everything else. good
soil and good care pay dividends in
healthy shrubs and many large,
beautiful flower heads.
In preparing soil for a new plant
ing, dig to a depth Of 18 inches.
Mix with the soil well-rotted manure
and a generous quantity Of bone
meal (1a pound to square yard
Leafmold may be used If manure is
not available. II peatmoss is used,
lime should be used as neutralizer
at the rate of " pound per bushel Of
peat.
Lilacs may be planted fall or
spring If they are dormant. They
start into growth SO early that
many gardeners prefer fall plant
ing. 1t is not necessary to prune
them back severely at planting time,
but spindling and broken branches
should be removed and any others
which detract from the symmetry of
the shrub.
Flower Cutting Helps.
Since the lilac forms its new flow
er buds in the fall the pruning
which is necessary should be largely
done soon after it blooms. Cutting
off flower clusters for indoor deco
ration helps to keep the plant in
good growth. Aside from the re-
moval of spent blossoms, other
pruning may be done when the plant
is dormant. Then dead wood and
suckers may be cut out. 1t becomes
necessary now and then to remove
whole branches close to the ground
to gain shapeliness and to insure
good health.
The common lilac (syringa vul-
garis) is the tall-growing shrub
found throughout most Of the coun-
try. 1t has attractive flowers that
are very fragrant. There is also a
white form.
Most of the named forms are
hybrids between vulgaris and other
species and are called French
hybrids because the first of them
was developed by the French horti-
culturist, Lemoine.
The French hybrids can be OBJ
tained in a wide variety of colors
and flower forms. Madame Lemoine
is double white. Edith Cavell is
cream white Of unusual excel
lerce. Charles Jolly is dark purple
wine, President Grevy, a light blue;
President Lincoln, wedgewood blue;
Philemon and Ludwig Spaeth, dark
purple.
Persians Bloom Earlier.
The Persian lilac is often pre-
ferred to the common lilac because
1t blooms earlier. 1t grows to about
8 feet and has white or lavender
flowers.
Syringa villosa is a late bloomer.
1t has pale lilac colored flowers that
are almost pink. They are strangely
scented.
The Rouen lilac (Syringa chinen-
sis) is one of the best. 1t grows
10 to IL feet tall and bears great
quantities Of reddish-purple, dark
red or white flowers. The flower
clusters are smaller than those of
the Persian lilac, one of the parents,
but because they are borne in such
abundance they give finer display :.
The Hungarian lilac, S. josiksea, ),
is similar to S. villosa but has
heavier panicles Of bloom and a
deeper color.