Every year in May, lilacs delight us with their magnificent, mostly violet or white blossoms. Even outside the flowering period, the ornamental tree is a feast for the eyes with its large, bright green leaves and dense foliage. Because of this, lilacs are ideal as a privacy screen, for example in the form of a hedge. You can also plant them in more exposed corners of the garden without worrying, because in contrast to the summer lilac, the real lilac is sufficiently hardy.
Frost does not bother mature lilacs
Real garden lilac is hardy
When it comes to winter hardiness, many a garden owner is unclear, as many confuse the robust common lilac and the more sensitive summer lilac. While both species look quite similar, mostly because of the shape and color of their inflorescences, they are not related. In addition, the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris), which belongs to the olive tree family, is absolutely hardy - in contrast to the summer lilac (Buddleja davidii), which belongs to the figwort family and needs winter protection, especially when young. Therefore:
- The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is hardy and tolerates even deep frosts.
- Syringa rarely freezes back.
- The summer or butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) is only conditionally hardy.
- Its shoots and branches often freeze back in winter, but it reliably drives out again from the roots.
What to do if the lilacs don't sprout in spring?
However, it can also happen to you with a spring lilac that it no longer sprout after a long and severe winter. This is especially the case when
- the winter was very wet and the lilac "drowned" in the constant moisture - the wood does not like waterlogging at all
- extremely cold temperatures meet bright sunshine in a dry winter
In the case of the latter, frost damage is very likely, because the warming rays of the sun can stimulate the lilacs to sprout, especially towards the end of winter, and the extremely cold temperatures can freeze back the twigs and branches with the sap flowing through them.
Overwintering lilacs properly in pots
Of course, lilacs cultivated in pots are also sufficiently hardy, but their roots, which are poorly protected by the pot and little substrate, require additional protection. To prevent the roots from freezing back, you should wrap the planter in warming fleece and also place it on an insulating base such as wood or polystyrene.
tips
If you want to put the lilac on the stick or even dig it up completely, autumn or even winter is the right time for it.