6 minute read
PLANT OF THE MONTH
Exceptionally hardy, Syringa x hyacinthiflora rewards us with an abundance of exquisitely scented flowers in mid spring, about 7-10 days earlier than common lilacs.
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JIM FUNAI, LIC Cuyahoga Community College SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
SYRINGA X HYACINTHIFLORA
EARLY FLOWERING LILAC
Creating a hybrid plant is a process that traditionally consists of taking pollen from one plant species and placing it on the stigma of another. The host then has its stamens removed to prevent contamination. If this plant sets seeds, they are planted and their novel traits observed. This process – while simple – is tedious, requiring years of observation and careful record keeping. It’s a process which humans have engaged in for well over 8,000 years though, producing nearly all of the modern vegetable crops we love today. The sweet corn we all enjoy today started its journey over 8,000 years ago as a tiny grass seed that still exists today (teosinte).
In the ornamental plant world, there are some true heroes of plant hybridization who have become forgotten as time goes on. That said, their impact continues to grow in our landscapes. One such hybridizer is Frank Skinner (1882- 1967), a Scottish immigrant to Manitoba, Canada. Skinner realized his plant-nerdery in his teens, dedicating his career to creating and discovering plants that would survive the harsh Canadian prairie 150 miles north of North Dakota. He lived in Dropmore, Manitoba, an area that sees around 90 frost free days a year, many days below zero-degree Fahrenheit, and is prone to drought conditions. They also see several months of humidity and 70 to 80 degrees in their short summer. Among many explorations of plant hybrids, perhaps one of the most effective Skinner worked on is a group called the “early flowering lilacs.” He was inspired by Victor Lemoine who made the first cross in France, in 1876. This group of plants are a cross between common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) and broad leaf lilac (Syringa oblata). Several hybridizers worked with plants making these same crosses, including Walter Clarke of San Jose, California, who worked on heat tolerant versions. This wide range of introductions tells us we need to pay close attention to the cultivar we select to be sure it is proven in our region.
Interestingly, there are no lilacs native to North America. In this case, S. vulgaris is native to southeastern Europe and S. oblata
is native the to northern regions of China. Both species are interesting in their own respect, but when crossed and selected for superior offspring, the hybrid vigor results in truly worthy landscape lilacs.
On average, these plants reach around 10 to 12 feet tall and wide, so they are not a replacement for the smaller ‘Miss Kim’ or ‘Palabin’ lilacs you are used to. Like most lilacs, the hyacinthiflora group should see full sun for best performance and will become leggy and unkempt with increasing shade.
Taking traits from both parents, these plants have a very strong “lilac” scent, but will bloom around a week before S. vulgaris cultivars open their blooms. While S. vulgaris struggles with some disease issues S. oblata is more resistant to the most common, powdery mildew. This trait is passed to the x hyacinthifloras as they are relatively pest and disease free. Most people love the ‘Miss Kim’ lilacs and ‘Palabin’ lilacs because they are also mostly pest and disease free (unless planted in wet soils) but they offer no scent. In fact, Lemoine coined the name “hyacinthiflora” upon creating the first crosses because of the resemblance to the blooms of Hyacinth in look and scent.
As with all plants, contractors are limited to what they can plant by what is grown. Conversely, nurseries are limited in what they grow by what the contractors ask for. This crazy chicken or egg conundrum can be overcome by both groups working together. Nurseries should offer better suggestions to contractors to expand their plant pallet and contractors should open their minds to the much broader range of plants that can solve their landscape problems..
Some cultivars of Syringa x hyacinthiflora you can find at our Ohio nurseries include:
‘Assessippi’ 1932 Skinner hybrid has single lavender flowers with heavy fragrance. Does not get as leggy as most lilacs. Name comes from the Assessippi Provincial Park near Dropmore, Manitoba. You will notice the “ssippi” which comes from Cree for river, like Mississippi.
‘Betsy Ross’ 1977 Don Egolf hybrid from US National Arboretum has single white flowers covering the plant with good fragrance. This cultivar is proven to handle a wide range of climates and will do great as our climate continues to warm but still have cold winters.
‘Maiden’s Blush’ 1966 Skinner hybrid with single light pink flowers, decent scent. Often listed as a cultivar of S. vulgaris but that is not correct. continued on page 22 15656 chillicothe road chagrin falls | OH | 44022
(440) 338-8100 artformnurseries.com
continued from page 21
‘Pocahontas’ 1935 Skinner hybrid whose buds start as maroon purple opening to dark violet single flowers, the color is stunning in the landscape.
‘Royal Purple’ 1965 Skinner hybrid opens to deep purple double flowers with good scent.
If pruning is required on any of the early blooming lilacs be sure to accomplish right as they are done blooming. If you wait until our normal pruning sessions in summer, you will likely remove next years flower buds as they set them soon after bloom. Timed right, these plants are very tolerant of aggressive pruning if needed.
On the other end of the spectrum is a group of hybrids (Syringa x prestoniae) known as the late blooming lilacs. With some creativity you could build a landscape that has over a month of lilac blooms for that client that just loves lilacs, or the client who doesn’t yet know they do!
Jim Funai, PhD. is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He has a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.
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