EARLY BLOOMING LILACS- usually starting the 2nd week of May

The first lilacs to bloom are generally cultivars of Syringa ×hyacinthiflora, bred by crossing S. vulgaris (common lilac, a native of Europe, and a mid-season bloomer) or its cultivars, with S. oblata (early lilac, a native of China, and an early blooming species).

Victor Lemoine et fils nursery, Nancy, France, released the first cultivar 'Hyacinthiflora Plena' in 1878. Other examples of their hybrids are 'Berryer', 'Buffon', 'Catinat', 'Lamartine', 'Montesquieu', 'Necker', 'Turgot' and 'Vauban'.

Isabella Preston at the CEF originated eight cultivars of S. ×hyacinthiflora. In the rows are 'Grace', 'Maureen', 'Norah', 'Peggy' and 'Viscountess Willingdon'.

Dr. Frank Skinner at his nursery in Roblin, Manitoba, used a different subspecies of S. oblata, subsp. dilatata for obtaining cultivars of S. ×hyacinthiflora. These cultivars are very hardy and for the most part smaller and more compact than seen previously. In the rows are 'Charles Nordine', 'Churchill', 'Daphne Pink', 'Doctor Chadwick', 'Excel', 'Gertrude Leslie' (generally the first lilac to bloom), 'Maiden's Blush', 'Mount Baker', and 'Pocahontas'.

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S. vulgaris predominates in the rows with 155 named cultivars, in the full range of colours (see Lilacs in the Rows by Colour). Start times for these vary greatly over a two-week period. They were originated by 20 Europeans and 19 North Americans, including 8 Canadians.

Sixty-eight of these cultivars were originated by Lemoine, France, and are popularly known as French hybrid lilacs. We have cultivars with origination dates ranging from 1876, for 'Jacques Callot', to 1949, for 'Madame Charles Souchet'. Plants directly from that nursery were planted in the rows starting in 1919.

Examples of Canadian originations include 'Princess Alexandra', by Dougall, Ont., in 1874, one of the oldest selections made in North America. Other Canadian originations: 'Agincourt Beauty', 'Frank Paterson', 'Heavenly Blue', 'Lucelle', 'Pom Pom', 'Redbud', 'Slater's Elegance', 'St Joan', 'St. Margaret', 'Violet Glory', 'Woodland Blue', and 'W.T. Lee'.

Other mid-season bloomers -

• S. ×chinensis and cultivars 'Metensis' and 'Saugeana' are round, attractive shrubs, with smallish leaves and masses of delicate flowers. They require little maintenance.

An early mid-season bloomer -

• S. ×diversifolia 'William H. Judd' is the result of a cross between S. pinnatifolia and S. oblata. The plant in the rows is not a healthy specimen but a thriving plant can be found in the Arboretum.

Three late mid-season types in the rows (and nearby rock garden) are excellent for small gardens

• S. meyeri 'Palibin', a shrub in the rock garden but on a standard in Macoun Memorial Garden
• S. pubescens subsp. julianae 'George Eastman'
• S. pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim'
• S. 'Bailbelle' (Tinkerbelle™), a member of the Fairytale Series by Holland, USA, was recently purchased by the lilac team and is in the nearby rock garden. It is a cross between S. meyeri 'Palibin' and S. pubescens subsp. microphylla 'Superba'.

The following is a sample of S. vulgaris cultivars, from a variety of originators. Location is east (EE and EW) and west (WE and WW) Lilac Walks (see map), numbered from north to south.

(Click on a cultivar name for an image. Click on an image to zoom in/out)

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Late blooming lilacs are in the Villosae series of lilacs. In the rows we have an early (pre 1890) selection of S. villosa, 'Dr. Bretschneider', origin unknown. All other late-bloomers are cultivars of S. ×prestoniae, S. ×josiflexa, S. ×swegiflexa, S. ×henryi and crosses among these. All are now categorized as belonging to the Villosae Group and are as follows:

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In the rows there are four specimens of the Japanese tree lilacs, S. reticulata. Three of these were obtained from the Lemoines' nursery and planted in 1919.

They provide shade for the arbour, a resting spot half-way along the eastern Lilac Walk, and a beautiful backdrop for the Rose Garden.

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