It's a great time to talk about lilacs.
Why?
Because lilacs thrive in places that are currently burdened with snow, sleet, ice and general winter grey. We need to talk about lilacs and dream of their sweet fragrance to keep the winter blues away.
What's better than a lilac flower in spring? How about a lilac that blooms in summer, too?
Let's go one step further and have a lilac that stays about 3' tall. So that homeowner with a small yard can get maximum lilac time with a minimal square-footage investment.That sounds like a win all around!
Bloomerang® Dwarf Purple lilac is all that, plus improved disease-resistance. It's a great fit in smaller landscapes and patios, and an outstanding container plant for retail sales.
Like other lilacs it will want full sun, and has good deer-resistance. It's hardy in USDA 3-7, and like all Syringa will tolerate tough conditions like alkaline or clay soils.Shrub Madness
I think March Madness is such a thing in the Midwest because it's a distraction from this painful month of grim weather.
We can do better than a basketball tournament, though. How about a plant tournament? The best of March Madness (minus the injuries and off-court shenanigans) combined with LILACS! Yes, that's Shrub Madness...and it's happening right now!
Pick your plants. Trash talk with the other plant nerds. Maybe put a little money down on your favorite genus. Come on, you know you have one. You've only got a few more days to complete your bracket and thus be entered to win some sweet prizes. Then you have all month to help pick the winner. Have fun!
| Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles |
