In most cases, lilac varieties are upright or spreading shrubs, differing in terms of flowering and shade of petals. In most varieties, a palette of a different color is added to the main shade of the inflorescences.
Now at least 25 species of plants from the genus lilac have been studied and described, and since the 1870s more than 2 thousand hybrid varieties have been bred, so it is not difficult to choose the right plant.
Each variety of lilacs is beautiful in its own way.
There are several classifications depending on different parameters:
- Flower shape: simple and double.
- Coloring: solid and complex.
- Flower size: large, medium, small (0,5-1 cm).
- Flowering time: early flowering (late April), mid-flowering (second and third week of May), late flowering (late spring – early summer).
The most famous species is common lilac, on the basis of which breeders have created a lot of new varieties. The height of this plant can reach 6 m, the length of the inflorescences is 21-23 cm. The inflorescences are collected from small flowers of a white or pale purple hue.
List of popular varieties:
- Baybelle. A compact shrub with beautiful red wine-colored buds that turn into pink and very fragrant flowers. Blooms in May. The variety is frost hardy and has good disease resistance.
- “Pearl”. An early flowering variety with a spreading crown. Plant height – 3 m. Large inflorescences consist of deep pink buds and delicate white flowers with an admixture of whiteness. Has a strong aroma.
- Congo. Medium-sized shrub. It blooms very profusely. Large panicles of inflorescences are composed of dark purple buds and bright purple-red flowers.
- “Beauty of Moscow”. It has large pinkish-white double flowers with a strong pleasant aroma. At the end of flowering, the flowers turn almost white.
- Le Notre. Frost-resistant, early flowering shrub up to 4 m high. Dense inflorescences consist of dark purple buds and pale blue double flowers up to 3 mm in diameter.
- Lucy Balte. Differs in abundant and long flowering. The buds have a brownish-red color, which is unusual for lilacs, while the blossoms have a pinkish tint with a barely noticeable blueness.
- Madame Lemoine. One of the best white varieties. Medium-sized shrub with abundant late flowering.
- “Sensation”. Medium-sized late flowering variety. The purple-scarlet petals have a clear snow-white border.
New items often appear, so lovers of lilacs need to keep an eye out for this.
Every gardener can find a variety that will not leave him indifferent.