THE GREEN MAN: INVEST IN WHITE LILACS

Thursday, June 17, 2010

INVEST IN WHITE LILACS

Double-flower white lilac 'Madame Lemoine'
www.cedarcreekfarm.net

The Green Man recommends investing heavily in lilacs if clients have a large site and plenty of sunshine. Lilacs are admirably tough plants, but they do require not too acid soil, room, and plenty of sun.

One major design issue with lilacs is that the common light purple varieties may appear prosaic, tired, and weedy when planted en masse. The simple solution is to use white lilacs in their place.

First, the color white brightens and dazzles the landscape, and it immediately adds a sense of surprise, class, elegance, and decorum. Second, white is a mediator color, and it is especially useful in mediating colors in lilacs which tend to be exceptionally nuanced.

Lilac 'Charles Joly' www.estabrooksonline.com

For example a 'Charles Joly' planted next to a 'Monge' defeats the purpose of appreciating subtley in the shades of color and simply looks gauche. However, mediate these two cultvars with a grouping of 3 'Madame Lemoine,' and all with stand out as glorious specimens.

Use the violet 'Monge' in proximity with 'Primrose' but mediate with a white variety. Yellow and violet are color complements.

OK, here's the bottom line:

1. Use white lilacs en masse.

2. Separate color varieties from one other with grouping of 3 to 5 whites. Do not use lilacs in pairs unless they are used formally as "sentries" on either side of a gate or doorway. Go with Nature's own 1-3-5 scheme instead.

3. Create an element of surprise on the site by including a grouping of 3 yellow lilacs. 'Primrose' yellow blossoms will darken to a deeper yellow as the plants mature. Create one grouping only, or the effect is diluted.

Lilac 'Primrose'
www.waysidegardens.com

4. Incorporate smaller lilac cultivars into the design scheme. Use low-growing Syringa patula 'Miss Kim' and dwarf Korean lilac Syringa meyeri 'Paliban' to balance the verticality and height of lilacs and to provide fragrance.