Lilac is one of the big favorites when it comes to flowering shrubs. No wonder, because the flower spikes not only look beautiful, but they also smell great. So it's only logical that at some point you'll think about one or two new copies. Enthusiasts then like to try their hand at propagation themselves. But which method works best for this shrub? We explain how you can propagate lilacs.
Can you propagate lilacs?
First of all: Lilac bushes are not exactly easy when it comes to propagation. It can be tried both from stolons and seeds, which are considered the most likely methods, and from cuttings, with the chances of success being higherin cuttingsand runners is also dependent on the variety. It takes a certain amount of luck so that you actually end up with a duplicate of the mother bush. If your goal is to always have another specimen for the garden, it may be more worthwhile to buy a new shrub. However, if you just feel like trying your luck, do the following, depending on the method:
Use cuttings from the mother bush
As already mentioned, this is considered the safest method, although “safe” is relative. Because not every lilac variety produces runners. It is usually the wild varieties that are suitable for propagation via root runners. You can recognize them by the fact that individual shoots sprout from the soil near the trunk. These shoots are called saplings. In contrast, most cultivated lilac varieties do not develop offshoots. This is how you can propagate lilacs:
The best time to get offshoots of lilacs is spring or, alternatively, autumn. To do this, take a spade (don't tear it off!) and cut off the runner with the roots. You can then plant it in the new location. Afterwards the lilac offshoot must be doneYour future shrub, water regularly so that it can grow well.
(A notice:The shoots ensure that your lilac bush becomes denser. You can simply let it grow or dig it up regularly if you want to keep the flowering shrub compact.)
Propagate lilacs by cuttings
This method works quite well with some varieties, but with noble lilacs it is a bit of a challenge. But there's no harm in trying it once. How can you propagate lilacs through cuttings?
The flowering phase is the best time for this. Then simply cut off a few branches from the mother bush, which is very practical if you are cutting off flowers for the vase anyway. Feel free to prepare several, as this increases the chances of success and that one or two branches will ultimately form roots.
- Only cut off the green, non-woody shoots.
- It is important that you make sure that there are three leaf nodes left, placing the cut either under the third node or above the fourth.
- Remove the lower leaves to leave a sufficiently long, free stem.
- Halve all other existing leaves so that they can still photosynthesize but require less energy.
- Remove a small piece of bark from one spot. Two centimeters should be enough. The piece can also be narrow.
Then try to propagate the lilac either in a glass of water or plant the cuttings directly in pots with potting soil. If you want, simply split the cuttings and try both versions. From now on, the lilac cuttings in the pot should always be kept moist, otherwise they will dry out and cannot form roots. However, soaking wet soil and waterlogging must be avoided at all costs. Now it's time to wait and be patient. If at all, the branches only form the first roots after several months.
Also interesting:Propagate forsythia in autumn with instructions for cutting wood
Grow yourself from harvested seeds
Sowing seeds from seeds, which you can harvest directly from your bush if you let the faded flowers ripen into seeds instead of them, is pretty much guaranteed to be successfulto cut them off. How do I propagate my lilacs by seeds?
Immediately after you have collected the seeds and separated them from the remaining parts of the plant, you can sow them in potting soil and thus multiply the lilac. The container then stays outside - even until after the beginning of winter! It is important that it is kept in a shady place and that it is watered regularly so that the soil always remains moist but not wet.
In January, the plant containers must be covered and moved to winter quarters, which should be unheated. Now let the seeds germinate in peace and then prick them out when they have grown a little (usually in spring). The lilac can be transplanted into the garden in the fall of the same season. The first flowers only appear after a few years.
