Can I grow lilacs in Tennessee?

[kiwifruit2]

Originally Posted by Gilpin Girl

This is a little off topic, but just 2 days ago I was talking to a coworker about lilacs. He said he was told that lilacs only flower every other year. I grew up in Colorado with lilacs in the backyard. We must have had 10 of them. I don't remember a bush going without flowers. Anybody know anything about every other year flowering?

I know in Illinois, where i'm originally from, they flower every spring, not every other spring. I think it depends on the type and where you live. I love lilacs, they are so beautiful. Had a huge line of lilac bushes that blocked the view of the fire station next door at my bf's mom's house. The people who live there now cut them all down! Such a shame.

[kiwifruit2]

Originally Posted by flower54

kiwifruit2....I've lived in TN for 8 yrs..moved from NY and loved my lilacs. The house that we bought here already had 2 lilac bushes in the yard and they bloom every year.I trim the bloom off every year. I started a new one from a runner, so I'll see what happens this year. The only thing I find is they don't stay in bloom for long. BUT they are lilacs. Good Luck!

You got lucky! Good to know. Even if they don't bloom long, they are gorgeous and smell so good!

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by Gilpin Girl

This is a little off topic, but just 2 days ago I was talking to a coworker about lilacs. He said he was told that lilacs only flower every other year. I grew up in Colorado with lilacs in the backyard. We must have had 10 of them. I don't remember a bush going without flowers. Anybody know anything about every other year flowering?

I believe they bloom on old wood, so if someone pruned them at the wrong time, they would need to wait for two years for flowers.

[J&Em]

Lilacs will grow in some parts of Tennessee and not others so location matters. All of Tennessee is not exactly the same, it has very distinct changes in elevation and geography effecting weather and temperature conditions. What can do well in Bristol may die in Memphis. A local microclimate change can make that slight bit of difference for a cool area plant to make it in a warmer zone.

There are a handful of lilac varieties that have a somewhat biennial bloom, alternating years will be sparser and heavier in bloom. Gentlearts is right about pruning too late. You wind up cutting off the growth the plant puts in for next year's bloom if you wait very long after this year's bloom, it sets its buds very quickly. If you prune it too late you will not have blooms the following year.

[hotzcatz]

There are some variety of lilac which will grow in a warmer climate, look for a Descanso Hybrid type and it should do fine even if the winter doesn't get that cold where you are.

[fisheye]

Here in northeastern PA I share a grove (100’X 200’) of lilacs with and adjacent property. It was an old homestead that vanished many yeas ago. The soil is usually very damp where they thrive. The little valley that they live in is very fragrant in the spring.

I also do not think the grove is doing as good as it did thirty years ago. My feeling is that our thin topsoil and acid rain are starting to take a toll. Also; the trees surrounding the grove grew taller and cast more shade on the lilacs.

To the best of my knowledge; they have bloomed every year. Pruning does not seem to hurt them - since many have been cut and brought in our house and neighbor’s houses.

My thinking is that they would do better in the hills of TN. Especially; if you were close to water. Of course I am not familiar with all of the other varieties and I have only passed through your state.