Lilac - pictures please

[OliviaRwhite]

I’d like to add some large shrubs / small trees / climbers to my border (for privacy, and to try and stop so many footballs coming over from next door)! I don’t want too much shade as its west facing and gets a lot of sun, so is the main flower border.

If anyone had any lilac in their garden, can you please post a pic of what it looks like right now? Also, how fast does it grow?

TIA

I've got two, both are just coming into leaf now. One is a dwarf variety with a domed shape, the other is tiny as it was in a 9cm pot when I bought it last year. Lilacs are at their best in May.

16 April 2020

24 April 2019

Haven't got a picture yet this year - it currently has some colour from the flower buds but they aren't open.
Weirdly it flowered in late Nov 20, which it has never done before.

My pink lilac may last year

The pictures look lovely, thank you!

Can they be pruned to stay relatively narrow in a border? Has anyone tried this? I’m looking at some little plants online so might try some small ones this year and see how they do!

I have a small lilac that grows in a very small tree form. It is fairly narrow from one angle and wider from the other. You prune them right after they flower and you can be quite hard with the pruning ime so I reckon you can easily keep one to the dimensions you prefer. I'll post a pic a bit later.

There are some species of lilac which are small bushes. Flowers not quite as striking but perfume equally good. Look up Syringa in wiki for a list of the species

Here is mine - no idea what variety it is but it's quite compact, narrow from the front but arches out and over a bit. Lots of room at ground level for other things (though currently there's not much because I cleared lots of stuff I didn't want and am trying to prevent its return before planting up with other stuff.

Mine is about to flower. Give it a day or two.

It's too big for a small garden, only interesting for a short time s and is very thirsty. I'd get rid of mine only it seems immortal.

Thank you everyone for your responses. I’ll look for a compact upright version!

That's funny because mine is never watered, and my garden is very dry in summer. It must differ according to variety

@BewareTheBeardedDragon, if you removed it, your garden would probably be a swamp.

I'm not sure if they are that bad, but plants near it aren't happy.

My cherry tree is in blossom, so much more rewarding.

But lilac is divine while it flowers and smells so wonderful. I find I just forget about it the rest of the year and it takes care of itself. Mine doesn't seem to bully its bedmates.

I mean it's old bedmates. Hope the new ones date ok 😬😬😬

*fare not date

I love lilac. I don't have any but love smelling it on a walk

It's unlucky if you bring it indoors.
I wouldn't grow it in a pot, but if you do, get a dwarf one

I had lilac but got rid of it because a ) it was in a stupid place, and b) I found it a disappointing plant, yes it’s a bit lovely for a couple of weeks and smells gorgeous, but only if it doesn’t coincide with rain when it collapses in a wimpy way, apart from that it is very dull for the rest of the year , the leaves don’t change or colour, there are no fruits or hips , and it’s a bit invasive. I think in a small garden it doesn’t pull its weight for the space it takes up. I would only plant it for the two weeks pleasure if I had a big garden.

This is a dwarf one, early flowering. I've had it maybe 4 or 5 years, although it was in a pot for the first couple of years.

The second you prune mine (I have 2) they put up a million suckers. I'm constantly pulling out lilac suckers about 2m around the base. Not sure what variety they are as they're inherited but be away they're vigorous!