Few things say springtime like the scent of lilacs. Luckily for us, conditions in the Merrimack Valley are perfect for growing the fragrant bushes.
Hardy plants that thrive in the cold, lilacs can tolerate the harsh conditions of coastal areas, explains Evelyn King, co-owner of West Newbury wholesale nursery Syringa Plus. “They’re tough,” she says of her greenhouse’s specialty. “They’re New England plants.”
King and her partner, Roger Coggeshall, know their lilacs—they have been growing and selling the flowering shrubs in West Newbury for 15 years. Their nursery, named for the botanical term for lilacs, boasts nearly 300 varieties of the bloom. The public can enjoy their impressive array of sights and scents each weekend in May. “We grow a lot of lilacs,” King says. “The fragrance is the best. The flowers are gorgeous.”
Before opening their nursery on Bachelor Street, Coggeshall spent years working with lilacs at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, while King got her start selling Christmas trees with her parents. Eventually, though, memories of her childhood drew her back to lilacs. “We had lilacs in my grandmother’s yard, and lilacs in the yard I grew up in,” she explains. “It’s a very sentimental plant.”
King hears from people all over the country, especially New Englanders who have relocated to southern states, who fondly recall that fragrance from their own youth. “They don’t miss the snow and ice, but they sure do miss the lilacs in the spring,” she smiles.
Originating in Eastern Europe, lilacs are cold-climate plants. They were first cultivated in Yugoslavia, Hungary and Romania, though a few varieties originated in Korea and China. They arrived in the New World with some of the earliest European settlers. Quickly gaining popularity in New England, the lilac was even named New Hampshire’s state flower in 1919. “Most definitely, New England is famous for them,” King says.
In more recent years, however, new varieties have been developed for warmer climates. The plant can now be found as far south as northern Florida, and is even grown in parts of Arizona and southern California. Syringa Plus ships lilacs to nurseries all over the country, occasionally taking orders from overseas. This spring, the greenhouse even sent lilacs to Russia and Norway.
To prolong the famously brief bloom, King recommends planting more than one variety of lilac. The cycle of different blooms at Syringa Plus can last for several weeks. Once planted, lilacs require little care. According to King, the root system can reproduce on its own and live for 100 years.
Though not necessary, pruning can create a bushier plant. The best technique is to trim some blooms, bringing them into the house as cut flowers. Otherwise, King advises leaving the plants alone. “Don’t kill them with kindness,” she says. “If they look good, let them be.”
But she warns that there is one thing to watch out for: flooding. Two years ago, flooding threatened to destroy Syringa Plus’ collection. Digging trenches around the plants helped, though the blooms still drooped. Good soil drainage is essential, especially during heavy spring rains. “Lilacs don’t like wet feet,” she cautions.
King is hoping for better luck this year as she looks forward to another lilac-scented spring.
“We look forward to them blooming every year.”
Lilac facts:
Botanical name: Syringa
Origins: Eastern Europe
First documented New England planting site: Governor Wentworth Mansion in Portsmouth, NH in the mid 1700s
Number of known varieties: More than 1,000 Bloom time: Varies from year to year, but typically starts in May and lasts from one to two weeks.
Syringa Plus: 210 Bachelor Street West Newbury, MA
Telephone: 978-465-7269 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, during growing season www.SyringaPlus.com
In the Garden – Lilacs
Few things say springtime like the scent of lilacs. Luckily for us, conditions in the Merrimack Valley are perfect for growing the fragrant bushes.
Hardy plants that thrive in the cold, lilacs can tolerate the harsh conditions of coastal areas, explains Evelyn King, co-owner of West Newbury wholesale nursery Syringa Plus. “They’re tough,” she says of her greenhouse’s specialty. “They’re New England plants.”
King and her partner, Roger Coggeshall, know their lilacs—they have been growing and selling the flowering shrubs in West Newbury for 15 years. Their nursery, named for the botanical term for lilacs, boasts nearly 300 varieties of the bloom. The public can enjoy their impressive array of sights and scents each weekend in May. “We grow a lot of lilacs,” King says. “The fragrance is the best. The flowers are gorgeous.”
Before opening their nursery on Bachelor Street, Coggeshall spent years working with lilacs at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, while King got her start selling Christmas trees with her parents. Eventually, though, memories of her childhood drew her back to lilacs. “We had lilacs in my grandmother’s yard, and lilacs in the yard I grew up in,” she explains. “It’s a very sentimental plant.”
King hears from people all over the country, especially New Englanders who have relocated to southern states, who fondly recall that fragrance from their own youth. “They don’t miss the snow and ice, but they sure do miss the lilacs in the spring,” she smiles.
Originating in Eastern Europe, lilacs are cold-climate plants. They were first cultivated in Yugoslavia, Hungary and Romania, though a few varieties originated in Korea and China. They arrived in the New World with some of the earliest European settlers. Quickly gaining popularity in New England, the lilac was even named New Hampshire’s state flower in 1919. “Most definitely, New England is famous for them,” King says.
In more recent years, however, new varieties have been developed for warmer climates. The plant can now be found as far south as northern Florida, and is even grown in parts of Arizona and southern California. Syringa Plus ships lilacs to nurseries all over the country, occasionally taking orders from overseas. This spring, the greenhouse even sent lilacs to Russia and Norway.
To prolong the famously brief bloom, King recommends planting more than one variety of lilac. The cycle of different blooms at Syringa Plus can last for several weeks. Once planted, lilacs require little care. According to King, the root system can reproduce on its own and live for 100 years.
Though not necessary, pruning can create a bushier plant. The best technique is to trim some blooms, bringing them into the house as cut flowers. Otherwise, King advises leaving the plants alone. “Don’t kill them with kindness,” she says. “If they look good, let them be.”
But she warns that there is one thing to watch out for: flooding. Two years ago, flooding threatened to destroy Syringa Plus’ collection. Digging trenches around the plants helped, though the blooms still drooped. Good soil drainage is essential, especially during heavy spring rains. “Lilacs don’t like wet feet,” she cautions.
King is hoping for better luck this year as she looks forward to another lilac-scented spring.
“We look forward to them blooming every year.”
Botanical name: Syringa
Origins: Eastern Europe
First documented New England planting site: Governor Wentworth Mansion in Portsmouth, NH in the mid 1700s
Number of known varieties: More than 1,000
Bloom time: Varies from year to year, but typically starts in May and lasts from one to two weeks.
Syringa Plus:
210 Bachelor Street West Newbury, MA
Telephone: 978-465-7269 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, during growing season
www.SyringaPlus.com