Photo: Lynn Karlin There are more than a thousand varieties of
lilacs, all members of the olive family (Oleaceae). Brought to
Europe from Turkey, the shrubs eventually found their way to the
gardens of early American settlers. French hybridizer Victor
Lemoine created the first double lilacs toward the end of the
19th century. During the 20th century, American breeders
produced new classics like ‘Wedgewood Blue’, and helped expand
the lilac’s color range, which now encompasses purple, pink,
white, yellow, red, magenta, blue-lavender and bicolors. Also
during this period, new hardier, longer-blooming lilacs were
introduced from Asia, including the beloved ‘Miss Kim’, a
sweetly scented beauty with dark purple buds opening to soft
lavender flowers, paling as they mature. Today the trend is
toward dwarf lilacs: Bailey Nurseries, in St. Paul, Minnesota,
recently introduced the new Fairytale series, as exquisite and
perfumed as larger varieties, but compact enough to tuck into
small spaces. CULTIVARS FOR THE GARDEN