Grow | Harvest with
Lilac
Native to Southeastern Europe and propagated by European immigrants, you can find lilacs planted on abandoned homesteads across the United States.
Part of the oleaceae family, its relatives include olive, ash, jasmine, forsythia and fringe trees.
I D E N T I F I C A T I O N
4 ft to 20 ft in height
White, purple or pink flowers on panicked clusters
Opposite, heart shaped leaves
G R O W
Syringa vulgaris
Perennial
Zones 3-8
Deciduous
Moist, well drained soil
Full sun
Rocky hillsides
Blooms in April and May for just a few weeks.
H A R V E S T
Mid to late spring
Midmorning
D R Y
Cool, dark place with good airflow
Remove blooms from stems while fresh
Make with
Lilac
Here are 5 quick tidbits you should know about Lilac.
1. Energetics: cool, dry, bitter, aromatic
2. Astringent: helps tone and tighten skin in skin care products
3. Febrifuge: supports lowering fevers
4. Antiperiodic: helps prevent the return of disease; often linked to malaria
5. Vermifuge: aids in expelling digestive worms and parasites
For educational purposes only.
Not intended for medical advice.
Always consult your physician.
Folklore & Fables of
Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
The spring is fresh and fearless
And every leaf is new,
The world is brimmed with moonlight,
The lilac brimmed with dew.
Sara Teasdale
Its species name syringa comes from the Greek word syrinx which means "pipe." In Persian, "lilak" means "blue" or "bluish."
Ruled by Venus and the sign Libra, its element is water.
In floriography, or Victorian Language of Flowers, purple lilacs signify young love or first emotions of love, while white blooms symbolize youthful innocence.
Symbolism includes:
beauty
love
femininity
youth
purity
protection
In Greek mythology, the nymph Syringa turned herself into a lilac bush to escape the overt gestures from a captivated Pan, the God of forests and fields. But the intoxicating aroma of the lilacs still garnered his attention and he created a panpipe from a branch, rendering Syringa always by his side.
Ancestors planted lilacs by their homes to guard against evil spirits. Fresh flowers were used to cleanse a haunted house.
Lilac's scent stimulates feelings of love, peace and harmony.
It is said that Lilac can aid in the occult by shaking loose ancient memories, recalling past lives and developing psychic abilities.
Lilac is the state flower of New Hampshire and the symbol of the 8th wedding anniversary.
When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom'd
And the great star early droop'd in the western sky in the night,
I mourn'd, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.
Walt Whitman
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