Lilacs in NOVA?

[Anonymous]

Can I successfully grow lilacs here? I loved them growing up in the upper midwest and am missing them. Any advice or tips? TIA!

[Anonymous]

I have one that I planted about 8yrs ago in VA. It blooms for about 2-3wks each summer and is divine. Lovely green the rest of the season.

[Anonymous]

I have one in my backyard that blooms regularly. I love it. Maybe it depends upon your soil? Ironically, our soil is the pits. It is very, VERY clay-y AND has a lot of rocks.

We planted it about 8 years ago as well and it does bloom every spring. Sometimes I prune it (as it grows upward) to get it to grow more outward and "fill out" a bit more.

[Anonymous]

We have one in our backyard and it blooms a little each spring, but not much. However, I don't do anything to it and it doesn't get much sun. I grew up in NH (their state flower is the purple lilac) and I miss the smell of lilacs in the spring!

[Anonymous]

If you grow it where it gets only morning sun, I think you'll be fine.

Ironically, my parents' lilacs grow like gangbusters and they also have terrible, clay soil like a PP. Maybe that's what lilacs want?

[Anonymous]

We also have a lot of clay in the soil, and our lilac (planted in the sunniest place I could fine) is doing pretty well-- blooms for a few weeks in the spring.

[Anonymous]

the problem here for lilacs is the mold factor--too humid for them

[Anonymous]

For those of you who have lilacs that are doing well- what variety do you have? From my understanding some varieties do better than others in this area. I really want one too!

[Anonymous]

5 gallon pots of lilacs were on sale at Merrifield a few weeks ago. They were lovely.

Btw, I have red clay (with a ton of rocks) and I can grow lots of things really well. Clay actually has lots of nutrients and minerals in it, you just need to add lots of soil amendments (I use a lot of Leafgro) to make sure the soil will drain okay.

[Anonymous]

I read that lilacs in northern states because they like hard winters.

[Anonymous]

I also miss lilacs and was thinking of planting some.

I looked it up recently, but the bookmarks are not on this computer. I think fall is the preferred time to plant them. One of the local garden centers can probably give you good advice.