OT: Lilac bushes

15 years ago

Have any of you with lilac bushes had problems this year? I have almost no blooms and I have about 40 bushes, some at the house and the rest at the farm. The only lilac that's covered in blooms is my dwarf. I haven't seen any of my neighbors bushes with nice flushes either and almost everyone around here has a lilac or two. I am so disappointed. This is the first time in over 20 years that this has happened.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

suzie29
15 years ago
All of ours in California have bloomed just fine & normal. Nothing out of the ordinary at all.
suz
marquest
15 years ago
Mine do not usually bloom until Mother's Day. I will let you know if they bloom. I have some really old old ones and I get a second small flush every Aug-Sept also.
Related Professionals
Little Rock Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Hagerstown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Raleigh Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Jonesboro Landscape Contractors · Crestview Landscape Contractors · Brunswick Landscape Contractors · Lawrenceburg Landscape Contractors · Lebanon Landscape Contractors · Burlington Landscape Contractors · Emporia Custom Countertops · Ashland Custom Countertops · Poplar Bluff Custom Countertops · New London Custom Countertops · Hackettstown Custom Countertops · San Angelo Custom Countertops
eloise_ca
15 years ago
Hopefully they are just late blooming this year Karyn. I've never bought a lilac bush, because years ago a friend said that they don't do well here &/or they don't have a good scent like the ones back east.
marquest
15 years ago
Karyn, they are starting to bloom now. One is covered the dwarf ones are just starting.

I will update as to how many blooms but they look like they are going to be covered. I have the white ones. I do not have any large purple Lilacs. My dwarf are purple/pink.
karyn1
Original Author
15 years ago
My dwarfs are the only ones with blooms. Evidently the lilac problem is fairly widespread. Besides not seeing any while driving I posted on the Mid-Atlantic forum and everyone is having the same issues. Even DH's local suppliers don't have anything. I have white, lavender, purple, pink, doubles, all kinds and none are in bloom : ( All the other spring trees and flowers have been blooming normally. It's just the lilacs. I hope the peonies are nice. I'll really be pissed if they don't have buds! Enjoy yours and think of all the sad folks down here when you are smelling your lilacs. lol
marquest
15 years ago
That is strange. Do not give up hope, maybe they will be late blooming this year.
princealbert
15 years ago
Karyn,
If it's any comfort, the ones in central texas are just beginning to bud and bloom.
maybe it has to do with the extra cool weather we had.
pa
karyn1
Original Author
15 years ago
They are definitely a wash for this year. I'm going to contact the UMD agricultural extension and see if they have any info. Several people think it has to do with last years' record heat late into the fall and the record lows going into spring this year. So far that makes the most sense but I haven't noticed any other varieties affected.....yet. At least my dwarf varieties are loaded with blooms even if they are a fraction the size of the standards. I already cut 30 stems from this bush and you can't even tell.
{{gwi:475639}}
eloise_ca
15 years ago
Beautiful Karyn! Enjoy what you can get :-)