Lilacs (kids, good, beauty)

[K9 Kids and Me]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Yes, several friends grow varieties of lilacs, with success...though they are all at lower elevations than we are.

Aha, I found a couple of vague links on NC Zones...as I guessed, 8a to 6, but I suspect 5b up 'here', in spots:

And, the Garden Forum on CityData, has a good roster of knowledgeable posters, imo:

In a nutshell, yes to lilacs, as I assume you won't be living above 4,500 ft.
GL, mD

Thanks for the links. I will check them out this weekend. and, yes, I plan on living below 4500 ft. I'm at 7800 in NM now and want to be at more like 4000 or less.

[K9 Kids and Me]

Originally Posted by ButtercupMcToots

but nothing smells like a lilac.

"Ain't" that the truth!!!!!

BTW, I did find one hardiness map that rates all of NC as Zone 7 and lilacs are supposedly good to go for Zones 3-7.

[K9 Kids and Me]

Originally Posted by mountainrose

I called this nursery in Asheville for tree quotes and their web site shows they sell lilacs--shows pictures of them.
Nursery Plants and Landscape needs

thanks, I will check it out....

[K9 Kids and Me]

Originally Posted by mwh236

I have lilacs in Murphy as do some of my neighbors.

Cool! what "variety?"

[K9 Kids and Me]

Originally Posted by young92

You can grow lilacs but getting blooms is another thing. We've been told you need a good, cold winter to get a good bloom.

I've also heard that - that's why they won't grow further south.

So some years will be better than others. Jesse Israels and the like are good places to buy plants. Be careful when buying at the typical big box store. They are notorious for selling plants that don't work in our zone.

Great advice. Thanks. I can't wait to get back east and start checking out NC. A few days ago I started checking out the city-data forum for Virginia. I go a lot by intuition and gut feeling. I did not get warm fuzzies reading posts on the VA sites. I do get warm fuzzies on all of the NC ones. I even had a dream a few nights ago about NC. I really think your state is where I am supposed to be.

I hope all of you and your properties are safe and survive the hurricane. My local news in NM is even reporting on the hurricane.

[Tarheel22]

I love lilacs, too.....but I think the deer will eat them,

[ButtercupMcToots]

Originally Posted by Tarheel22

I love lilacs, too.....but I think the deer will eat them,

Deer will eat anything. I've watched them munching my "deer resistant" plants. Liquid Fence works well, especially if you start spraying early in the spring before they establish your yard as a buffett.

[Mimi 2 Five]

Yes, you can grow lilacs in WNC! A couple of my neighbors have them and I've seen them all around town. I also love lilacs (my favorite flower) but have never planted them. They seem to be slow growing and I'm not the patient type....lol.

[SteelCityGirl57]

We are originally from SW PA and always enjoyed a lovely seasonal garden with all kinds of plants, mostly flowering and evergreen. Each spring we are in Asheville for an extended visit. Yes, lilacs! We stay in Montford, walkable to downtown, and at the end of the street where we stay there was a whole row of old, old lilacs in glorious bloom and aroma. It's part of my day to stop and smell the lilacs! And if we ever have our own garden in Asheville, it will include lilacs. Many of the plants we love in the Mid-Atlantic/NE grow well in WNC. Definitely go to local nurseries for best plants and advice. There is also a very nice nursery next to the Farmers Market as well as BB Barns and others. There is also a peony farm not too far out of the city. WNC is a diverse ecological area. Simply beautiful! People talk about WNC in the autumn but the spring is breathtaking and glorious too.

[K9 Kids and Me]

Originally Posted by SteelCityGirl57

We stay in Montford, walkable to downtown, and at the end of the street where we stay there was a whole row of old, old lilacs in glorious bloom and aroma. It's part of my day to stop and smell the lilacs!

Lovely!!!!

Many of the plants we love in the Mid-Atlantic/NE grow well in WNC.

This is so good to hear!

There is also a peony farm not too far out of the city.

We had peonies in Jersey when I was growing up. the thing I remember about them is they always seemed to have a lot of ants crawling around in the blooms.