Growing a Japanese Lilac Tree
The Japanese lilac tree is a real beauty to behold, but often overlooked in the wide world of lilacs. Statistics show that lilacs are the most popular shrubs to be (purposely) grown—and it’s no wonder! Lilacs are super fragrant and an absolute joy to look at. So, what’s special about the Japanese lilac? For starters, it is fairly large for a shrub and produces white lilacs rather than the lavender shades that most of us are accustomed to.
The Japanese lilac tree has beautiful auburn colored bark that provides an intense offset to the purity of its white flowers and green leaves. This tree can grow to heights of twenty to thirty feet and a spread (width) of anywhere from fifteen to twenty-five feet. For the most part, this tree tends to take on a more rounded shape which makes it look all the more soft and appealing.
Unfortunately, this tree doesn’t take well to damage and will certainly make you pay for failing to protect it by taking a great deal of time to recover. In cases where severe damage has been sustained, the Japanese lilac tree may fail to bloom for a few years. This species of lilac does have softer wood than other trees of its size so any measures possible should be taken to ensure that this tree doesn’t get too battered by windy or stormy weather.
If you are considering planting your own lilac tree, it is important that you consider the area where you are going to plant it. This species prefers full sunlight (which means at least six hours of sunlight on a daily basis). It can survive in partial sunlight but it may not produce nearly as many flowers, or it may fail to flower at all, depending on the circumstances.
When planting this tree, you should try to use a soil rich in organic matter. You can do this by adding a bit of compost to the soil you remove from the ground. Speaking of which, the hole that you dig for your lilac tree should be at least two times the size of the young tree’s root ball. Place the roots into the ground and try to keep the topmost portion of the roots just under ground level. Backfill the hole with the soil and compost mixture and make sure that you pack the soil well around the roots to stabilize it and tamp out any air pockets. After filling the hole halfway, add a bit of water to it, then finish filling the hole.
You may want to consider loosely fastening the tree to a stake to help keep it stable until it grows strong enough to maintain its own weight and the elements. If you choose to put compost around the area of the newly planted tree, about an inch in thickness should do. Many people recommend adding mulch to the base of the tree to help prevent the moisture from escaping from the soil. Shredded bark works very well if you can go to the expense. If not, the compost I mentioned earlier should act as a sufficient barrier.
The Japanese lilac tree will need to be watered on an average basis, but be sure not to muddy the soil, as this could lead to root rot. If your area frequently experiences periods of drought, you should prepare yourself to compensate for the lack of rainfall by watering your lilac tree about once a week until nature kicks back into gear.
Lilac trees are not for everyone, but I think they can provide a very soft and gentle touch to even the barest of yards. They are an easy tree to maintain after the initial planting and pruning after the first year of growth and the reward is certainly worth the effort. Of all the lilac trees available to choose from, the Japanese variety definitely deserves your consideration!