Syringa vulgaris 'CHARLES JOLY'

Lilacs are common shrubs of European gardens. Their flowering highlights month of May offering many shades of pink, purple and violet, and also white. They are low maintenance plants which is why you can see them in so many landscapes.

Charles Joly and Michel Buchner are probably the most common lilac varieties in the Czech Republic. The flower colour of Charles Joly is rich lilac-pink. The inflorescence is composed of single, very fragrant flowers that resemble mezereon flowers forming a dense, erect panicle. Lilac flowers are very fragrant and open in early May for 3-4 weeks. Pruning is not needed but can be made immediately after flowering. Deadheading is recommended for young plants.

Lilac flowers are symbols of liberation in former Czechoslovakia. When on 8th May 1945 Germany surrendered its Wehrmacht armies were supposed to leave our country. Still, there were many SS units that refused to accept signed capitulation and continued killing Czech and Slovak people. The next day 9th May 1945 early in the morning Ukraine troops lead by Marshal Koněv crossed the border entering Czechoslovakia, and helped us get rid of the last SS units whose aim, allegedly, was to be taken captive by US armies, not Soviet armies. 9th May is the day of our liberation and Soviet soldiers are portrayed in pictures receiving flowers of just flowering lilacs from grateful Czech people. Lilacs and their fragrance became symbols of liberation and freedom in our country and not even 40 years of communist propaganda misusing this image could not take anything of its beauty away.

Lilacs are easy to grow. They will take almost any soil but will thrive in deep, fertile, well-drained soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline. They respond well to hard pruning. Adult plants often make suckers forming an even denser, multi-stemmed shrub. Fully hardy to about -37°C (USDA zone 3).

Last update 08-02-2012