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Syringa patula 'Miss Kim' For the bluest lilacs, look for single-flowered 'President Lincoln' or double 'President Grevy'. If yellow is your colour, 'Primrose' might appeal to you with its petals of soft butter and cream. However, it is not as scented as the more traditional shades. A popular and unusual member of the group is 'Katherine Havemeyer', whose double lavender flowers open to pinkish-mauve and fade to pale violet creating a stunning three-toned effect. For even more drama, 'Sensation' lives up to its name with single purple flowers crisply edged in white. Both are exceptionally fragrant. Although lilacs need cold weather to set their buds, late frosts can sometimes turn the flowers brown just as they are about to open. Fortunately, there's a whole range of hardy Canadian hybrids that avoid some of the risk by flowering at least two weeks later than the French favourites. We have Isabella Preston, Canada's first woman hybridist to thank for that. Two of her introductions have received the prestigious award of merit from the Royal Horticultural Society: 'Bellicent' is a tall shrub (up to 4 m) with huge, loose trusses of clear baby-pink flowers and a sugary cinnamon scent. 'Elinor' has rich purple buds that Syringa vulgaris 'Congo' Lilac Care Lilacs flower best in full sun. They are undemanding, drought-tolerant plants that will grow in most soils as long as they have good drainage. Feed with a sprinkling of lime and some well-rotted manure or an all-purpose fertilizer in early spring. To rejuvenate a straggly plant, remove one-third of the trunks at the base every year for three years. Keep the strongest of the new growth and remove any additional suckers on a regular basis. Spring blooms emerge from buds that developed during the previous summer. So, do any additional pruning immediately after the flowers fade. Syringa 52 | BC HOME & garden April 2013 p50-53_Lilacs.indd 52 13-03-14 10:13 AM