Detailed Explanation of Cultivation Methods and Pest and Disease Control Techniques for Amur Lilac
How to plant Amur lilac? Today the editor at Huinong Network will explain the propagation, fertilizer and water management, and pest and disease control techniques for Amur lilac from several aspects including fertilizer and water management, propagation methods, pruning techniques, and pest and disease control management.
1. Planting and Fertilizer and Water Management
Amur lilac can be planted in spring or late autumn. Spring planting should be done early rather than late, and should be carried out before bud break; planting too late results in a low survival rate. Autumn planting can be done from early November to early December. Amur lilac does not tolerate transplanting well, so both large and small seedlings should preferably be planted with a soil ball, with the soil ball diameter being 6 to 8 times the ground diameter. Before planting, the planting soil and base fertilizer should be thoroughly mixed in advance. When backfilling soil, it should be tamped layer by layer to prevent the planting soil from developing air pockets. After planting, water thoroughly immediately; water a second time after 5 days, and a third time after another 10 days. After the third watering, fill in soil and build a berm.
Fertilizer and water management after planting is particularly important. Amur lilac grows slowly in the first 3 years after transplanting, so strengthening water and fertilizer management can accelerate the recovery of tree vigor and benefit its growth. Taking spring planting as an example, after the third watering, when the soil surface no longer sticks to a shovel, loosening the soil can be carried out. After that, water thoroughly once a month. July to August is the period of abundant rainfall, so watering can be skipped or reduced. In late autumn, at the end of November or early December, water sufficiently and thoroughly for the winter freezing water. Some people believe that Amur lilac is a relatively cold-hardy tree species and neglect to water the freezing water in late autumn, but this is actually wrong, because the freezing water not only serves to prevent freezing but also supplies the plant with sufficient moisture, which benefits bud break the following spring. Therefore, the antifreeze water in late autumn must be watered sufficiently and thoroughly. In early March of the following year, water the thawing water in a timely manner to provide the moisture needed for bud break, which benefits the tree's spring growth. After that, water thoroughly once a month, and in late autumn water the freezing water well according to the method of the previous year. In the 3rd year, water according to the method of the 2nd year. From the 4th year onward, it is sufficient to water the thawing water and freezing water well each spring and autumn. If spring and summer are particularly dry, water should also be supplemented in a timely manner; if rainfall is normal, it can be left to grow on its own.
In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer at planting, Amur lilac can be given 1 application of farmyard manure in late autumn of the first year in conjunction with watering the freezing water. Semi-decomposed cow or horse manure or leaf mold fertilizer can be applied shallowly in the tree basin. Before bud break the following spring, 1 application of nitrogen fertilizer can be given to promote bud break and the growth of branches and leaves. In mid-July, 1 application of phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer can be given. In late autumn, in conjunction with watering the freezing water, another application of farmyard manure can be given. Fertilization in the 3rd year can follow the method of the 2nd year. From the 4th year onward, it is sufficient to apply 1 application of nitrogen fertilizer each spring and 1 application of farmyard manure in late autumn.
2. Pruning
Amur lilac used in gardens generally has two tree forms: single-trunk small tree form and multi-trunk shrub form. Single-trunk small tree form: In the nursery, it is cultivated in a small tree form. When the seedling grows to about 50 cm, it is cut back to the ground in late autumn. In the second year, water and fertilizer management is strengthened, and it can grow to more than 1 m tall that same year. During cultivation, side branches are continuously thinned out to maintain its trunk character. When it grows to about 2 m tall, the trunk can be headed. In early summer of the following year, 3 to 4 vigorous branches are selected and retained on the new branches as main branches. The selected main branches should be evenly distributed and roughly equally spaced. When the main branches grow to about 50 cm, they are shortened, with the cut made at an outward-facing bud, to promote the formation of side branches. The side branches should each occupy their own direction and must not cross.
Multi-trunk shrub form: Multi-trunk Amur lilac generally has 4 to 5 main trunks, and main branches and side branches are appropriately selected and retained on each main trunk, avoiding crossing branches. After the basic tree form is formed, the principle should be to maintain the basic tree form, with emphasis on pruning overly dense branches, crossing branches, drooping branches, dead branches, and pest- and disease-damaged branches. Because the flower buds of Amur lilac are borne at the tips of the branches, pruning generally does not involve shortening, to prevent cutting off the flower buds and leaving no flowers to enjoy in spring. However, if it is to improve the tree form and make the crown fuller, shortening can be carried out to promote new branches. In addition, timely removal of suckers is also very important. Too many suckers not only consume nutrients but also affect ventilation and light penetration, making it easy for pests and diseases to develop. For Amur lilac not cultivated as a seed-bearing mother plant, the spent flowers should be cut off promptly after flowering to avoid consuming nutrients and affecting ornamental value.
Amur lilac propagation generally uses seed propagation.
2.1 Seed Collection
Select Amur lilac with a tall trunk, straight trunk, and full crown as the mother tree for seed collection, and collect seeds from late September to early October. After the fruits are collected, beat them with a stick to clean the seeds, then store them in a clean cloth bag and place them in a ventilated, dry place.
2.2 Seed Treatment
In January to February of the following year, soak the seeds for 3 hours in an 800-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable granules to disinfect them, then rinse repeatedly with tap water 3 times, place them in warm water at about 40°C and soak for 48 hours, then remove the seeds, mix them evenly with wet river sand at a ratio of 1:3, put them into a gunny bag, and carry out alternating temperature treatment, turning them once a day, watering at the appropriate time, and maintaining a moisture content of 65%. When the seed germination rate reaches about 40%, they can be sown.
2.3 Sowing
Choose loose soil with good drainage, sandy loam, as the sowing nursery site, and apply 2500 kg/mu of cow and horse manure. Sow in mid-May. Before sowing, disinfect the soil with a 1000-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable granules. Sowing is done in drills, with a drill width of 10 cm and a sowing rate of 25 g/m2. After sowing, cover with soil promptly to a thickness of about 0.5 cm, cover with straw curtains, water at the appropriate time, and keep the soil moist. After 40 days, the seedlings will emerge completely.
2.4 Seedling Management
The seedlings after emergence are relatively weak. Spray once with a 1000-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable granules to prevent damping-off. Carry out weeding, soil loosening, and watering in a timely manner, keeping the seedbed free of weeds, loose, and moist to facilitate seedling growth. In late autumn, cover with grass for insulation. In late April of the following year, transplant the seedlings, with a plant spacing of 8 cm and a row spacing of 12 cm, and water thoroughly after transplanting. During the growing period, weed and loosen the soil in a timely manner. In early June, 1 application of urea can be given at a rate of 8 kg per mu. In late August, spray 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate to promote lignification of the seedlings. By late autumn, the seedlings are about 50 cm tall, and they can be transplanted the following year.
3. Pest and Disease Control
3.1 Diseases
Common diseases of Amur lilac include brown spot disease and sooty mold. Brown spot disease generally occurs in early to mid-June. Spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable granules or a 400-fold dilution of 70% mancozeb wettable granules can be used for control, once every 7 days, and 3 to 4 consecutive sprays can effectively bring the disease under control. Sooty mold generally occurs from early July to mid-to-late August. A 3000-fold dilution of 43% Tilt or an 800-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable granules can be used, once every 7 days, with 3 to 4 consecutive sprays.
3.2 Insect Pests
The insect pests that harm Amur lilac include red spider mites and leafcutter bees. If red spider mites cause damage, a 1500-fold dilution of 0.36% matrine aqueous solution can be used to kill them. If leafcutter bees occur, they can be captured manually or controlled by spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 20% insecticide.
The above is the propagation, fertilizer and water management, and pest and disease control techniques for Amur lilac. Friends interested in growing Amur lilac are welcome to come to Huinong Network to learn more.
Amur lilac yinga reticulata var. mandshurica Amur lilac illustrated guide: how to grow Amur lilac / how to propagate Amur lilac
Amur Lilac ProfileAmur lilac yinga reticulata var. mandshurica
Amur lilac cultivation methods and precautions, introduction to Amur lilac
Amur lilac, also known as "Amur lilac," scientific name Syinga reticulata var. mandshurica, blooms in June, is produced in Northeast and North China, and is the rootstock for tree-form lilacs. Amur lilac is a treasure from top to bottom: the wood has straight grain, is relatively light, contains volatile oil, has a distinctive fresh fragrance, and does not warp. It is a tree species with very high comprehensive utilization value.
Morphological Characteristics of Amur Lilac
Amur lilac has leaves that are ovate to broadly ovate, 5-12 cm long, with acuminate tips and rounded or nearly cordate bases, smooth, with obvious veins beneath. The panicle is often in a pair of lateral inflorescences, about 10-15 cm long, smooth; flowers are white, without fragrance; the corolla tube is short, about 6 mm long; the stamens are exserted, twice as long as the corolla tube. The capsule is oblong, acuminate or obtuse, about 1 cm long. Flowering period is June. Fruiting period is August to September. It is used for ornament; the wood can be used to make utensils and farm tools. According to "Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine," the trunk can be used as an herbal medicine and can reduce inflammation and relieve cough. It is produced in Northeast and North China and is the rootstock for tree-form lilacs.
Deciduous small tree, up to 10 m tall. Bark is purplish gray or purplish gray-black, rough, with fine cracks, often not splitting; branches are purplish, glossy, with grayish-white lenticels, often 2 to 4 connected horizontally. Simple leaves are opposite; leaf blades are mostly ovate or broadly ovate, thick papery to leathery, 5-10 cm long and 3-5.5 cm wide, with abruptly pointed or shortly acuminate tips and usually rounded bases, green above and light green beneath, hairless on both sides, with entire margins; petioles are 1-2.2 cm long and hairless. The panicle is large and sparse, 10-15 cm long, often lateral; flowers are white and relatively small, with calyx and corolla 4-lobed. The capsule is oblong, obtuse at the tip, 1.5-2 cm long and 5-8 mm wide, with wart-like protrusions outside, 2 locules, each locule with 2 seeds; seeds are winged around the margin. Flowering period is June, and fruit ripening period is September.
Ecological Habits of Amur Lilac
Amur lilac is a mesophytic tree species; it prefers a warm and humid climate, is resistant to severe cold, has no strict requirements for soil, and prefers moist alluvial soil. It often grows in mountain needleleaf-broadleaf mixed forests, forest edges, roadsides, riverbanks, and valley thickets at an altitude of 300-1200 m.
Distribution Range of Amur Lilac
Amur lilac is a variety of the genus Syringa in the family Oleaceae. It is distributed in Korea, the Far East region, and in China's Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and other places. It grows in areas from 100 m to 1,200 m above sea level and is found at forest edges, mountain slopes in thickets, ditch sides, grasslands, and in needleleaf-broadleaf mixed forests.
Amur lilac is mainly distributed in the mountainous areas south of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, with only scattered distribution in the Greater Khingan Mountains; in addition, it is also distributed in China's Jilin, Liaoning, North China, Northwest China, Central China, as well as Korea, the Russian Far East, and Japan.
Landscape Uses of Amur Lilac
Ornamental Application
Amur lilac has large inflorescences, a long flowering period, and a strong fragrance, making it a beautiful landscaping and ornamental tree species.
Functions and Uses of Amur Lilac
The wood has straight grain, is relatively light, and contains volatile oil. It can be used to make hoe handles, cupboards, tea canisters, teacups, cigarette cases, and so on. It has a distinctive fresh fragrance and does not warp.
Medicinal or Dietary Therapeutic Value of Amur Lilac
The medical information and health dietary therapy information on Huahua Network is for reference only and cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis or medical treatment. Any health issues should be consulted with professional medical personnel, and treatment of any disease should follow a doctor's advice.
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Medicinal Value
Amur lilac is a treasure from top to bottom. The bark, trunk, and branches can all be used medicinally. It is bitter in taste and slightly cold in nature, and has the functions of clearing the lungs and eliminating phlegm, relieving cough, calming asthma, reducing inflammation, and promoting urination. It is mainly used to treat cough, phlegm rales and wheezing, excessive phlegm, as well as bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and cardiac edema. In addition to medicinal use, the leaves contain 19.50% tannin and the tree contains 5.72% tannin, and can be used as a raw material for tanning extract; the wood is solid and dense, uniform in structure, and has a special fresh fragrance. It can be used for construction, utensils, furniture, and joinery, and is especially suitable for tea canisters, tableware, and so on; the roots can be used as a raw material for incense; the flowers can also serve as a nectar source and contain 0.05% aromatic oil, which can be extracted; the seeds contain 28.6% fatty oil, which can be pressed for industrial use. It can be seen that Amur lilac is a tree species with very high comprehensive utilization value and broad market prospects.
Amur lilac is a treasure from top to bottom. Its bark contains syringin, which is the main component of Qinbaohong Cough Tablets and Qinbaohong Cough Capsules. This medicine has the effects of clearing the lungs, eliminating phlegm, relieving cough, and calming asthma, and has a very good therapeutic effect on chronic bronchitis and asthma, and is very popular on the market. The trunk wood of Amur lilac has straight grain, is relatively light, decay-resistant, contains volatile oil, and can be used to make cupboards, tea canisters, teacups, cigarette cases, and so on. Its flowers and leaves can be made into health tea, which has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, relieving cough, and eliminating phlegm, and can help prevent sarcoma, leukemia, hypertension, heart disease, edema, arteriosclerosis, and other diseases. In addition, it is also a very good nectar plant.
Amur Lilac Flower Tea
The flowers of Amur lilac also have certain medicinal effects and are often collected to make Amur lilac flower tea, which is used to treat cough and for health care. Amur lilac flower tea is made from the flower buds of wild Amur lilac from the Lesser Khingan Mountains as the main raw material, refined through traditional techniques and modern technology. This product uses Amur lilac as the main raw material and natural raw materials as the formula, and is a refined drinking treasure. It not only maintains the unique effects of Amur lilac in "clearing the lungs, eliminating phlegm, relieving cough, and calming asthma," but also has characteristics such as fresh and tender aroma, mellow taste, clear liquor color, and resistance to repeated brewing. Long-term drinking has the effects of promoting salivation and quenching thirst, strengthening the brain, and improving eyesight. It is a natural green drink and an excellent gift, with good health-care effects on the respiratory system. It is the main component of Qinbaohong Cough Tablets and Qinbaohong Cough Capsules. This medicine has the effects of clearing the lungs, eliminating phlegm, relieving cough, and calming asthma, and is very popular on the market.
At present, the health tea produced from Amur lilac flowers on the market and the Qinbaohong Cough Tablets and Qinbaohong Cough Capsules produced from the bark extract syringin have very good therapeutic effects on chronic bronchitis and asthma, and are very popular on the market. However, the raw material for producing syringin mainly relies on the bark of wild Amur lilac resources. The original number of Amur lilac was already not large, and every year a large number of Amur lilac trees die after being stripped of bark, so wild resources are gradually decreasing, and usable resources are nearly exhausted. Therefore, it has been listed by the government as a protected tree species, which has led to an even greater shortage of raw materials on the market, with purchase prices rising again and again, and illegal logging and theft of wild Amur lilac resources becoming more serious. The only solution is artificial cultivation to create large areas of medicinal raw material forests of Amur lilac. In this way, natural Amur lilac forests can be protected, while also maintaining and expanding the industrialized development of Amur lilac products, meeting market demand, and bringing very good economic returns to grower farmers.
Tea Products
Amur lilac flower tea. Its characteristics are that from April 10 to May 10 each year, the tender leaf buds and tender stems of Amur lilac are picked. Fixing: use a fixing machine to fix for 25-35 minutes, or use a steamer to steam-fix for 25-35 minutes. Rolling: make the Amur lilac leaf buds tightly twisted. Drying: natural drying or drying in a dryer can be used, for 20-30 minutes in a drying machine. Aroma adsorption: in mid-June each year, pick Amur lilac flowers in bud, place them into a storage box at a ratio of tea:flower buds = 95:5, and store for ten days so that the tea base fully absorbs the floral fragrance. Adding scented tea: to the tea base after aroma adsorption, 10% jasmine tea can be added as an additional aroma type and 10% lotus plumule can be added. It can be in strip, pearl, or broken types. The production process is simple and the cost is low. It has all the characteristics of scented tea and can also prevent and inhibit tracheal and respiratory system lesions.
Abstract of Amur Lilac Flower Tea
The present invention relates to tea, specifically Amur lilac flower tea. Its characteristics are that from April 10 to May 10 each year, the tender leaf buds and tender stems of Amur lilac are picked. Fixing: use a fixing machine to fix for 25-35 minutes, or use a steamer to steam-fix for 25-35 minutes. Rolling: make the Amur lilac leaf buds tightly twisted. Drying: natural drying or drying in a dryer can be used, for 20-30 minutes in a drying machine. Aroma adsorption: in mid-June each year, pick Amur lilac flowers in bud, place them into a storage box at a ratio of tea:flower buds = 95:5, and store for ten days so that the tea base fully absorbs the floral fragrance. Adding scented tea: to the tea base after aroma adsorption, 10% jasmine tea can be added as an additional aroma type and 10% lotus plumule can be added. It can be in strip, pearl, or broken types. The production process is simple and the cost is low. It has all the characteristics of scented tea and can also prevent and inhibit tracheal and respiratory system lesions.
Main Claims of Amur Lilac Flower Tea
Claims 1. An Amur lilac flower tea, made through picking, rolling, drying, scenting for aroma type, and blending ingredients, characterized in that: from April 10 to May 10 each year, the tender leaf buds and tender stems of Amur lilac are picked. Fixing: use a fixing machine to fix for 25-35 minutes, or use a steamer to steam-fix for 25-35 minutes. Rolling: make the Amur lilac leaf buds tightly twisted. Drying: natural drying or drying in a dryer can be used, for 20-30 minutes in a drying machine. Aroma adsorption: in mid-June each year, pick Amur lilac flowers in bud, place them into a storage box at a ratio of tea:flower buds = 95:5, and store for ten days so that the tea base fully absorbs the floral fragrance. Adding scented tea: to the tea base after aroma adsorption, 10% jasmine tea can be added as an additional aroma type and 10% lotus plumule can be added.
Utilization Value
The tree form is beautiful and the floral fragrance is rich. It can be used as a nectar plant and for extracting aromatic oil, and is a relatively good landscaping and ornamental tree species for parks, courtyards, and street trees. The whole plant can be used medicinally. Its tender leaves, tender branches, and flowers can be made into health tea, with the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, relieving cough, and eliminating phlegm. It can treat bronchial cancer, sarcoma, leukemia, hypertension, heart disease, edema, arteriosclerosis, and other diseases.
Propagation Methods of Amur Lilac
Amur lilac propagation generally adopts seed propagation.
1. Seed CollectionSelect Amur lilac with a tall trunk, straight trunk, and full crown as the mother tree for seed collection, and collect seeds from late September to early October. After the fruits are collected, beat them with a stick, clean the seeds, put them into a clean cloth bag, and store them in a ventilated, dry place.
2. Seed TreatmentIn January to February of the following year, soak the seeds for 3 hours in an 800-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable granules to disinfect them, then rinse repeatedly with tap water 3 times, place them in warm water at about 40°C and soak for 48 hours, remove the seeds, mix them evenly with wet river sand at a ratio of 1:3, put them into a gunny bag, and carry out alternating temperature treatment, turning them once a day, watering at the appropriate time, and maintaining a moisture content of 65%. When the seed germination rate reaches about 40%, they can be sown.
3. SowingFor sowing, choose loose soil with good drainage, sandy loam, as the sowing nursery site, and apply 2500 kg/mu of cow and horse manure. Sow in mid-May. Before sowing, disinfect the soil with a 1000-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable granules. Sowing is done in drills, with a drill width of 10 cm and a sowing rate of 25 g per square meter. After sowing, cover with soil promptly to a thickness of about 0.5 cm, cover with straw curtains, water at the appropriate time, and keep the soil moist. After 40 days, the seedlings can emerge completely.
4. Seedling ManagementThe seedlings after emergence are relatively weak. Spray once with a 1000-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable granules to prevent damping-off. Carry out weeding, soil loosening, watering, and so on in a timely manner, keeping the seedbed free of weeds, loose, and moist to facilitate seedling growth. In late autumn, cover with grass for insulation. In late April of the following year, transplant the seedlings, with a plant spacing of 8 cm and a row spacing of 12 cm. After transplanting, water thoroughly. During the growing period, carry out field management such as weeding, soil loosening, and watering in a timely manner. In early June, 1 application of urea can be given at a rate of 8 kg/mu. In late August, spray with 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate to promote lignification of the seedlings. By late autumn, the seedlings are about 50 cm tall, and they can be transplanted the following year.
Propagation Techniques
Seed sowing is mainly used for raising seedlings.
When propagating by seed, the seeds need to be treated before sowing. Soak the seeds in warm water at 40-45°C, then soak in cool water for 2 days, then soak in 0.5% potassium permanganate for 20-40 minutes, and stratify in sand at 15-20°C for 25-30 days before sowing. Open-field direct sowing is from late October to early May. Choose a fertile, moist, well-drained plot as the nursery, deep plow 30 cm, apply decomposed organic fertilizer, rake fine and level, then make beds. Broadcast sowing or drilling can both be used, with a sowing rate of 30 grams per square meter, and cover with soil 1.5 cm. After covering with soil, water thoroughly and cover the bed surface with straw curtains. In the 1st year, few seedlings emerge; in the 2nd year, more seedlings emerge and they are uniform. When the seedlings are 10 cm tall, thin them and weed and loosen the soil.
In the 3rd year after sowing, transplant the seedlings. Before transplanting, water the bed surface thoroughly, select high-quality strong seedlings free of pests and diseases, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and transplant at a plant and row spacing of 30 x 40 cm. When planting the seedlings, pay attention to spreading the root system out and not letting the roots curl, then firm the soil, fill in soil, and irrigate, and pay attention to weeding and loosening the soil.
In the 5th year, the seedlings leave the nursery for final planting and can be used as landscaping, ornamental, or medicinal trees.
Seed Collection and Processing
After mid-September, when the capsule fruit skin of Amur lilac turns brown and the fruit tip cracks slightly, seeds can be collected. Collecting the fruit too late makes it susceptible to insect damage, so seeds should be collected at the right time. When collecting seeds, use hand pruning shears to cut off the fruit clusters and spread them to dry in a ventilated, sunny place with plastic sheeting underneath, turning them frequently to encourage the fruits to crack and the seeds to fall out naturally. Remove the fruit skin and fruit stalks, and after winnowing, pure seeds can be obtained. The 1000-seed weight is 24 g.
Seed Germination Treatment
The pure seeds obtained from harvesting need to be subjected to germination treatment immediately. First soak the seeds in a 0.1% potassium permanganate solution for 4 hours for disinfection, then change to clean water and soak for another full day and night, remove and air-dry slightly, mix with river sand or snow at 3 times the seed volume, place into containers such as soil pits, sand pits, wooden boxes, or jars, and freeze over winter. The moisture content of the river sand is about 60%. Throughout the winter, prevent mice and dryness, and maintain low temperature. About 10 days before sowing, take out the seeds (for snow-stored seeds, mix in 2 times the amount of river sand), spread them out in the sun to promote germination, and sow when about 1/3 of the seeds have cracked and shown white. If the seeds are obtained late or are dry seeds, soak the seeds in water for about 15 days, changing the clean water once a day, then mix with sand and place at 20-30°C, and most will germinate in 50-60 days.
Sowing
Amur lilac seeds are medium-sized seeds. For sowing, choose a nursery site with loose soil texture and good drainage as the sowing area, and apply 2000 kg/mu of organic fertilizer. Bed sowing is used. The sowing time is May 18-May 22. Before sowing, disinfect the soil with a 1000-fold dilution of carbendazim. Sowing is done in drills, with a drill width of 10 cm and a sowing rate of 17-20 g/m2. After sowing, cover with soil promptly to a thickness of about 0.5 cm, cover with reed curtains, water at the appropriate time, and keep the soil moist. After 30 days, the seedlings emerge completely.
Seedling Management
The seedlings after emergence are relatively weak. Spray once with a 1000-fold dilution of carbendazim to prevent damping-off. From June to August, carry out field management such as weeding, soil loosening, and watering in a timely manner, keeping the bed surface free of weeds, loose, and moist to facilitate seedling growth. In the same year, S1-0 seedlings are 3-5 cm tall, with a root length of 10.6-15.4 cm, and the seedling yield is about 200,000 plants/mu.
Transplanting
The transplanting time for S1-0 seedlings is mid-to-late April, with a plant spacing of 6 cm and a row spacing of 10 cm, at a density of 160 plants/sq m. After transplanting, water thoroughly. From May to August, carry out field management such as weeding, soil loosening, and watering. In early June, apply urea at 10 kg/mu to promote seedling growth. On August 23, spray 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate on the leaves to promote lignification of the seedlings. In autumn, S1-1 seedlings are 48 cm tall with a ground diameter of 4.8 mm.
Cultivation Techniques for Amur Lilac
Amur lilac, also known as Baomazi and Amur lilac, is a deciduous shrub or small tree of the genus Syringa in the family Oleaceae. Amur lilac is distributed in Northeast China, North China, and the eastern part of Northwest China, and is also distributed in Korea, Japan, and Russia. It has characteristics such as large inflorescences, a long flowering period, and a late flowering period. It is a rare tree species in the genus Syringa that can grow into a small tree. It can not only play a role in extending the flowering period in a dedicated lilac garden, but can also serve as a tree-form rootstock for other lilacs, improving the ornamental effect of lilacs. Its cultivation and management techniques are introduced as follows.
Cultivation Management 1. Selection of Afforestation Land
For afforestation land, choose well-drained farmland returned to forest or wasteland on both sides of rivers, with a soil layer thickness of >=40 cm.
2. Afforestation
Spring afforestation can begin once the soil thaws 25 cm. Afforestation uses the ridge method, with a ridge width of 0.7 m, ridge height of 20 cm, planting depth of 0.25 cm, and an initial planting density of 28,000 plants/hm2. Before afforestation, use a 50 ppm ABT No. 1 rooting powder solution to treat the seedling roots for 5 minutes. In addition, Amur lilac has a well-developed root system, and overly long roots need to be pruned to avoid root curling during afforestation, with root length retained at 25 cm. The survival rate of afforestation in the same year reached 95%.
3. Young Forest Tending Management
After afforestation of Amur lilac, tending management should be strengthened. The number of tendings is 9 times over 3 years, namely 4.3.2. In the year of afforestation, carry out 1 full weeding in mid-May, 1 weeding in mid-June, 1 cultivating in early July, and 1 weeding in mid-August; in the second year, 1 weeding in early June, 1 cultivating in early July, and 1 weeding in mid-August; in the third year, 1 weeding in early June and 1 weeding in mid-August.
4. Harvesting and Renewal
Amur lilac young forests are harvested at 4-5 years, with the time in late March to April. Harvesting uses the full cut-back method, with a stump height of 3.0-4.0 cm. At a forest age of 4 years, tree height is 2.17 m, branch and trunk yield is 17413.2 kg/hm2, bark yield is 2377.2 kg/hm2, and leaf yield is 7621.6 kg/hm2.
After full cut-back of the young forest, in May of the same year the stumps can sprout 8-10 sprouts. Retain 4-6 vigorous sprouts and remove the weak and excess sprouts. In the same year, the sprouts grow more than 1.49 m in height. After 3 years, the young forest reaches a height of about 2.28 m, and after 4 years the young forest can be fully cut back again for harvest.
5. Water and Fertilizer Management
Amur lilac can be planted in spring or late autumn. Spring planting should be done early rather than late, and should be done before bud break; planting too late results in a low survival rate. Late autumn planting can be done from early November to early December. Amur lilac is a tree species that does not tolerate transplanting. When planting, regardless of whether the seedlings are large or small, it is best to bring some soil ball, with the soil ball diameter being 6 to 8 times the ground diameter. Before planting, the planting soil and base fertilizer should be thoroughly mixed in advance. When backfilling soil, it should be tamped layer by layer to prevent the planting soil from developing air pockets. After planting, water thoroughly immediately; water a second time after 5 days, and a third time after another 10 days. After 3 waterings, fill in soil and build a berm.
Water and fertilizer management after planting is particularly important, because Amur lilac grows very slowly in the first 3 years after transplanting. Strengthening water and fertilizer management can accelerate the recovery of tree vigor and benefit its growth. Taking spring planting as an example, after the third watering, when the soil surface no longer sticks to a shovel, loosening the soil can be carried out. After that, water thoroughly once a month. July and August are the period of abundant rainfall, so watering can be skipped or reduced. In late autumn, at the end of November or early December, water sufficiently and thoroughly for the winter freezing water. Some people believe in daily management that Amur lilac is a relatively cold-hardy tree species and neglect to water the freezing water in late autumn, but this is actually very wrong, because the freezing water not only prevents freezing but also supplies the plant with sufficient moisture, which benefits bud break the following spring. Therefore, the antifreeze water in late autumn must be watered sufficiently and thoroughly. In early March of the following year, the thawing water should be watered in a timely manner. This watering can provide the moisture needed for bud break in a timely manner, which benefits the tree's spring growth. After that, water thoroughly once a month, and in late autumn water the freezing water well according to the method of the first year. In the third year, water according to the method of the second year. From the fourth year onward, it is sufficient to water the thawing water and freezing water well each spring and autumn. If spring and summer are particularly dry, water should also be supplemented in a timely manner.
For fertilizing Amur lilac, in addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer at planting, 1 application of farmyard manure can be given in late autumn of the first year in conjunction with watering the freezing water. This fertilizer can use semi-decomposed cow or horse manure or leaf mold fertilizer. This fertilizer can be applied shallowly or directly scattered in the tree basin. Before bud break the following spring, 1 application of nitrogen fertilizer can be given. This fertilizer is very beneficial for bud break and the growth of branches and leaves. In mid-July, 1 application of phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer can be given. In late autumn, in conjunction with watering the freezing water, another application of farmyard manure can be given. Fertilization in the third year can follow the method of the second year. From the fourth year onward, it is sufficient to apply 1 application of nitrogen fertilizer each spring and 1 application of farmyard manure in late autumn.
Pruning Methods
When used in gardens, Amur lilac generally has two tree forms: single-trunk small tree form and multi-trunk shrub form.
1. Single-trunk small tree form: When the seedling grows to about 50 cm, cut it back to the ground in late autumn. In the second year, strengthen water and fertilizer management, and it can grow to more than 1 m tall that same year. During cultivation, continuously thin out side branches to maintain its trunk character. When it grows to about two meters tall, the trunk can be headed. In early summer of the following year, select and retain 3 to 4 vigorous branches on the new branches as main branches. The selected main branches should be evenly distributed and roughly equally spaced. When the main branches grow to about 50 cm, they are shortened, with the cut made at an outward-facing bud, to promote the formation of side branches. The side branches should each occupy their own direction and must not cross.
2. Multi-trunk shrub form: Multi-trunk Amur lilac generally has 4 to 5 main trunks, and main branches and side branches are appropriately selected and retained on each main trunk, avoiding crossing branches.
After the basic tree form is formed, emphasis is placed on pruning overly dense branches, crossing branches, drooping branches, dead branches, and pest- and disease-damaged branches. It should be mentioned that the flower buds of Amur lilac are borne at the tips of the branches, so pruning generally does not involve shortening, to avoid cutting off the flower buds. If the crown is to be made fuller, shortening can be carried out to promote new branches. In addition, timely removal of suckers is also very important. Too many suckers not only consume nutrients but also affect ventilation and light penetration, making it easy for pests and diseases to develop. For Amur lilac not cultivated as a seed-bearing mother plant, the spent flowers should be cut off in a timely manner to avoid consuming nutrients and affecting ornamental value.
Seedling Raising Techniques
1. Seed Collection and Processing
In natural forests of Amur lilac, select Amur lilac with a tall trunk and full crown as the mother tree for seed collection. The fruit of Amur lilac is a capsule, with a maturity period in late September. The seed collection time is generally September 22-October 1. After the fruits are collected, place them indoors to dry. After stepping on them and beating them with a stick, use a 0.3 cm x 2.0 cm long-hole sieve to sieve out pure seeds. The 1000-seed weight is about 25 g. After the seeds are processed, put them into woven bags and place them in a 3°C-8°C place for sowing in the 2nd-3rd year.
2. Seed Treatment
Seed treatment is carried out at the end of January to February. Use 0.1% potassium permanganate to disinfect the seeds for 10 minutes, rinse with tap water 2-3 times, place in warm water at about 30°C and soak for 36 hours, remove the seeds, mix the seeds evenly with river sand at a ratio of 1:3, put them into woven bags, and carry out alternating temperature treatment: place at 16°C for about 14 days, move to 8°C for about 20 days, first place at 16°C for about 25 days, then place at 24°C for about 15 days, place at 17°C for 3 days, and place at 22°C for 4 days. When the germination rate reaches about 35.0%, they can be sown. During seed treatment, turn them once a day, water at the appropriate time, and maintain a moisture content of 60%.
Seedling Cultivation
For the seedlings cultivated for Amur lilac, it is best to use excellent mother plants with high content of the target medicinal ingredients, fast growth, and strong resistance to stress and pests and diseases as the original germplasm material, and to carry out large-scale propagation of clonal seedlings. This is because the flowers of Amur lilac are heavily collected for flower tea, so the amount of seed formed is not only small but also uneven in traits and prone to variation. The amount of extract after cultivation to maturity is variable, which will affect the long-term economic interests of growers. Now investors have introduced the plant non-test-tube efficient rapid propagation technology invented by researcher Li Changxiao to rapidly propagate Amur lilac. It can carry out pure excellent seedling propagation of Amur lilac with no variation, low cost, short cycle, large scale, and industrialized production, and quickly supply all sectors of society. The plant non-test-tube efficient rapid propagation technology is a completely new plant cloning system that completely leaves laboratory conditions. The seedling facilities are simple, and the investment is dozens of times lower than tissue culture rapid propagation. It greatly saves germplasm material compared with conventional seedling raising. The amount of explant propagation unit material used is 3-8 times less than that used in conventional seedling raising; the inoculation speed is extremely fast, 3-5 times that of tissue culture. Labor efficiency is high. Starting propagation from micro Amur lilac material, plants that can grow under natural conditions can be directly cultivated in one go. For Amur lilac plants, only 20-40 days of cultivation are needed before they can be used for production afforestation. By using the plant non-test-tube efficient rapid propagation technology, your investment can achieve geometric growth in a short period. The supply of Amur lilac seedlings alone has very high potential profits. Industrialized large-scale planting of Amur lilac will be able to drive the common development of many industries and create more economic benefits and social contributions for investors.
Artificial Cultivation
Artificial cultivation of medicinal raw material forests of Amur lilac. The experimental results show that using 50 x 10^-6 ABT No. 1 rooting powder to soak the seedling roots for 5 min before afforestation, the height growth of 5-year-old young forests increased by 17.45%, branch and trunk yield increased by 52.68%, bark yield increased by 21.52%, and leaf yield increased by 59.41%; the reasonable initial planting density is 28,000 plants/hm^2, the young forest grows well, and bark yield and leaf yield increase considerably; the differences in bark yield and leaf yield between 4- and 5-year-old young forests are very small; the test results of detecting the main component syringin in different medicinal parts of Amur lilac show that the syringin content in the bark of 4- and 5-year-old young trees is close to or exceeds that of the 22-year-old wild control, and the content in the bark of young trees is greater than that in the leaves, and the content in the leaves is greater than that in the peeled branches and trunks; for cultivating medicinal raw material forests of Amur lilac, young forests at 4 or 5 years old can be harvested and used.
Disease Control of Amur Lilac
1. Common diseases: Common diseases of Amur lilac include brown spot disease and sooty mold. Brown spot disease generally occurs in early to mid-June. Spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable granules or a 400-fold dilution of 70% mancozeb wettable granules can be used for spraying, once every 7 days, and 3 to 4 consecutive sprays can effectively bring the disease under control. Sooty mold generally occurs from early July to mid-to-late August. A 3000-fold dilution of 43% Tilt or an 800-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable granules can be used, sprayed once every 7 days, and 3 to 4 consecutive sprays can effectively bring the disease under control.
2. Common insect pests: The insect pests that harm Amur lilac include red spider mites and leafcutter bees. If red spider mites cause damage, use a 1500-fold dilution of 0.36% matrine aqueous solution to kill them. If leafcutter bees occur, they can be captured manually, or controlled by spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 20% insecticide.
In early to mid-June, individual plants develop brown spot disease. Control method: spray affected and surrounding plants once with a 3200-fold dilution of Jundushaxing, and spray again after 7-10 days.
In mid-to-late June, spiders are likely to appear and harm the leaves. Control method: spray once with a 3000-fold dilution of Saomanjing, and spray again after 7 days. The effect is good.
From early to mid-July, the leaves are prone to sooty mold. Control method: 20 days before the disease occurs, spray an 800-fold dilution of Bordeaux mixture to prevent the disease; when sooty mold appears, promptly spray once with a 600-800-fold dilution of carbendazim (50% wettable powder) or Baijunqing (75% wettable powder), and spray again after 7-10 days. The effect is relatively good. After that, as the temperature gradually decreases and the weather becomes cooler, the disease gradually disappears.
Cultural Background and Historical Legends of the Amur Lilac
Legend has it that long ago, at the foot of Sun and Moon Mountain on the Qinghai Plateau, there lived a family. The father was very old, and all three of his sons had married. The eldest son farmed at home, the second son went out to do business, and the third son taught at a private school. The whole family lived a happy life.
In the courtyard where this family lived, right in the center, grew a Chinese juniper tree as thick as a bowl's mouth, also called a lilac tree. The tree was already over a hundred years old, yet still full of lush branches and clusters of blossoms. The old man often told the whole family, "Our family owes all its good fortune to this lilac tree that we have such good days." The whole family regarded the tree as sacred, pruning and watering it with extra diligence. One day, the old man called his three sons to his side and said earnestly, "When people grow old, they must eventually die. After I die, you three brothers must live in harmony, and none of you may propose dividing the family. If you want to divide the family, it can only be when the lilac tree in the courtyard withers." Before long, the old man died.
In the third year after the old man's death, the lilac tree suddenly withered. The three brothers thought it was heaven's will that they divide the family, but remembering their late father's charge, they knelt before the tree and wept bitterly in each other's arms. They cried for seven days and seven nights straight, when suddenly, with a "boom," a large pitch-black iron nail burst out from the trunk, and it landed squarely right in front of the second son's wife. Seeing this, everyone was greatly astonished and suspicious, and all eyes fixed on the second son's wife. Under everyone's pressing questions, she had no choice but to reveal the reason.
It turned out that the second son's wife, seeing her own man away doing business year after year while the silver he earned went to the whole family's use, had long been resentful in her heart. Hearing the old man's deathbed charge, she secretly conceived a treacherous idea and set about trying to kill the lilac tree. At first she poured dirty water and filth on the lilac tree, hoping to rot it to death. Who would have thought that this year the lilac tree not only did not die, but grew even more luxuriant, with even more beautiful and vivid flowers. The second son's wife was furious, so she quietly slashed and wounded all the branches of the lilac tree with a knife. Unexpectedly, the tenacious lilac tree grew even more new branches and leaves the following spring, and its purple flowers bloomed even larger and more fragrant. At this, the second son's wife grew even more furious. Having gone this far, she would not stop, and she secretly found an iron nail five cun long and drove it into the trunk. Just like that, the lilac tree was indeed ruined and withered to death.
Now that her deed of killing the lilac tree was known to everyone, the second son's wife felt ashamed. She admitted her mistake in front of everyone, was willing to repent, begged the whole family for forgiveness, and also asked the lilac tree for forgiveness, vowing that from then on she would live well with everyone and never again mention dividing the family. After discussion, the whole family decided to forgive her. From then on, the brothers and their wives lived in harmony, and the whole family was reunited, living a happy life again.
Before long the lilac tree put out new buds and new branches again. And from that year on, it bloomed every year in both spring and autumn, and the whole family loved it even more.
The Buddhist Sacred Tree
In Qinghai in western China, the Amur lilac is regarded as a Buddhist sacred tree. Everyone knows that the Bodhi tree is a Buddhist sacred tree. Legend has it that Shakyamuni attained Buddhahood beneath a Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, and from this it gained a beautiful reputation: the Buddhist sacred object. The two characters "Bodhi" mean "enlightenment" in Sanskrit. In some monasteries in India and Sri Lanka, Bodhi trees are planted. Buddhists often face the great Bodhi tree with palms pressed together, placed before their chests, or kneel in worship, or prostrate themselves with all five limbs to the ground in prayer to the tree. The Bodhi tree was introduced to China in the first year of the Tianjian era of Emperor Wu of Liang (502 AD), and was first planted in the Guangxiao Temple in Guangzhou, China, for Buddhists to pray to. Later it was also cultivated in Yunnan. But the climate of western China makes it utterly impossible to grow Bodhi trees, and since there were many Buddhists there, they had to choose a tree that could replace the Bodhi tree for worship. They believed that the leaves of the Amur lilac somewhat resemble those of the Bodhi tree, and moreover the Amur lilac was fairly widely distributed in the west, making it convenient for Buddhists everywhere to pray. Later the Amur lilac became the Buddhist sacred tree of western China. Buddhists often face the Amur lilac tree with palms pressed together in prayer to the tree.
The Buddha Tree
Buddhism plants Bodhi trees in monasteries not only to express the steadfastness and piety of faith, but mainly to commemorate the Buddha's attainment of enlightenment.
However, the true Bodhi tree is only suited to tropical and subtropical regions, and in China it can only grow well in the areas of South China and the southeastern coast. Therefore Buddhist disciples had to choose tree species adapted to local climates and environments to replace the Bodhi tree. For example, some monasteries in the south chose the soapberry tree to replace the Bodhi tree. This tree is called mulanzi by people in Guangdong and youchuanzi by people in Sichuan. Its seed kernels are black and very hard, can be made into prayer beads, and are regarded as an auspicious object; Buddhism also calls this tree the Bodhi seed tree. Some monasteries in the north mostly chose the rare and precious ginkgo tree to replace the Bodhi tree. The ginkgo tree is tall and majestic with a long lifespan, and is praised as "China's Bodhi tree." However, in Gansu, Qinghai and other places in northwestern China, due to the influence of the plateau climate, none of the above tree species can be planted, so Buddhist disciples chose the Amur lilac (a kind of lilac of the same genus as the Chinese lilac) to replace the Bodhi tree. People call the Amur lilac the "Western Sea Bodhi tree." The lilac tree now in the Fayuan Temple in Beijing is said to be a relic of the Ming Dynasty. Another example is a Amur lilac tree in the Qutan Temple south of Ledu County, Qinghai Province, which is said to have been planted when the temple was built during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, and has a history of more than six hundred years. Especially in the eastern part of the Qinghai Plateau, 25 kilometers from the provincial capital Xining, in Shahar Town, Huangzhong County, there is a world-famous holy site of Lamaism - Kumbum Monastery, one of the famous monasteries of the Gelug school of Buddhism. It is said that the construction of this magnificent Buddhist monastery originally arose from a strange Amur lilac tree.
Legend has it that after the birth of the Tibetan Buddhist master Tsongkhapa, a white sandalwood tree (an Amur lilac tree) grew at the place where he was born. It had thick roots and lush leaves, and on the tree grew about one hundred thousand leaves, each leaf naturally displaying the image of a lion-roaring Buddha, and even on the bark many natural body images and writing would appear, hence the name "Gunmu" (meaning one hundred thousand body images). This unusual white sandalwood tree (Amur lilac) was praised by Buddhist believers as a Bodhi tree.
In the eleventh year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1378), Tsongkhapa was studying scriptures in Tibet, and his parents wrote to him from Qinghai, urging him to return home to visit them. After receiving the letter, Tsongkhapa considered that the journey back to Qinghai was long and would affect his study of scriptures, and decided not to return to his hometown. So he sent a disciple to deliver a letter and a personal portrait painted with his own nose blood, along with a scroll of the lion-roaring Buddha image. The letter said: "If, at the place where I was born, a stupa is built centered on one hundred thousand lion-roaring Buddha images and a Bodhi tree (Amur lilac tree), it will be like seeing your son face to face." After his mother received this letter, she was deeply grieved, and devoutly enshrined the two images. In the twelfth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1379), with the financial support of his followers, and in accordance with the instructions of Master Tsongkhapa, a stupa called the Great Kumbum Relic Stupa was built centered on the white sandalwood tree (lilac tree). Later, because of the stupa's great fame, in the thirty-ninth year of the Jiaqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1560 AD) a monastery called Kumbum Monastery was built at the site where the stupa had been built. Within the monastery, more than ten large buildings such as the Great Golden Tile Temple, the Small Golden Tile Temple, and the Great Sutra Hall are magnificent and dazzling. When the monastery was at its height, the number of monks reached more than one thousand. It is now a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
That strange Amur lilac tree also has a history of more than six hundred years. Thereafter, the Amur lilac was regarded as a Bodhi tree by Buddhism in some places in the northwest.
Amur Lilac Pictures
How to Care for Lilacs
When the editor was in middle school, a song called "Lilac" was very popular and widely sung, expressing some sorrow, and to grow lilacs, one must first clearly distinguish that medicinal clove and ornamental lilac are two completely different plants.
Chinese aliases: Baijie, Qingke, Chinese lilac, Zidingxiang, foreign lilac; the Chinese lilac plant is 2 to 8 m tall, with opposite leaves, entire or sometimes lobed, rarely pinnately compound. Flowers are bisexual, in terminal or lateral panicles. Flower colors are purple, light purple or blue-purple, and there are also white, purplish-red and blue-purple, with white and purple being the majority. The purple ones are Chinese lilacs, the white ones are white lilacs, and the white lilac is a variety of the Chinese lilac. The capsule is oblong and dehisces between the chambers.
Lilacs like sunlight, are fairly shade-tolerant, like moisture, but dislike waterlogging, and are cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant, generally not needing much watering. Lilacs require fertile soil and well-drained sandy soil. Lilacs do not like heavy fertilizer, so do not fertilize too much, otherwise flowering will be affected. The corolla is a raceme, belonging to an indeterminate inflorescence. Lilacs like sunlight, are slightly shade-tolerant, highly cold-tolerant, and also drought-tolerant; they like moisture and dislike waterlogging. They have strong stress resistance and are not strict about soil, but thrive in fertile, loose, well-drained soil, and must never be planted in low-lying, damp places. Lilacs should be transplanted in early spring before the buds sprout.
In the transplanting hole, sufficient base fertilizer should first be applied, then a layer of soil should be placed over the base fertilizer, and then the seedling should be placed and the soil filled in. After planting, water thoroughly once, and then water 2-3 more times and they will survive. Lilacs are highly adaptable and relatively easy to manage; usually you only need to pay attention to weeding, preventing waterlogging in the rainy season, and watering during drought, and they will grow smoothly. Lilacs do not like too much fertilizer, so be sure not to fertilize too much, lest the branches grow excessively and flowering be affected. Generally, applying decomposed compost once a year or every other year before winter is sufficient.
In mid-March before budding, lilacs should be shaped and pruned, removing overly dense branches, thin and weak branches, and diseased and pest-infested branches, and cutting back excessively vigorous branches, so that the crown is well ventilated and lets in light. After the flowers fade, if seed is not to be kept, the faded flowers together with the two buds below the flower spike can be cut off, to reduce nutrient consumption and promote the sprouting of new branches and the formation of flower buds. After leaf fall, another pruning can be done to keep the crown round and beautiful and to benefit growth and flowering the following year.
Lilacs have very few pests and diseases. The main pests are aphids, bagworms and stinging caterpillars. They can be controlled by spraying 800-1000 times 40% dimethoate emulsion or 1000 times 25% imidan emulsion.
Plants of the genus Syringa are mainly used for garden ornament, and because of their unique fragrance, large and luxuriant inflorescences, elegant and harmonious flower colors, and full and beautiful posture, they have long enjoyed great fame among ornamental flowering trees and have become indispensable flowering trees in gardens at home and abroad. They can be planted in clumps along roadsides, on lawns or on sunny slopes, or interplanted with other flowering trees at the forest edge, or planted alone in front of a courtyard or outside a window, or various lilacs can be interspersed and arranged to create a special lilac garden. They are also suitable for pot cultivation and are good material for cut flowers in vases. Lilacs have strong resistance to various toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide and hydrogen fluoride, so they are also good material for greening and beautifying industrial and mining areas.
Plants of this genus like warmth, moisture and ample sunlight, and many species also have a certain degree of cold tolerance. The average annual minimum temperature in the Beijing area is about -19 to -16°C, and all existing cultivated species can overwinter safely in the open ground in Beijing, and can grow, flower and set fruit normally every year. It is recorded that the Amur lilac and the Hungarian lilac can withstand low temperatures of around -35°C. The average annual minimum temperature in Harbin, China, is about -26°C, and can sometimes reach -36°C or lower, and the species now cultivated in the open ground there include more than 10 kinds of lilac belonging to 2 subgenera and 3 sections. Because the flower buds of plants of this genus mostly grow at the 1st-6th pair of buds at the tips of the branches, when the 1st-3rd pairs of flower buds suffer cold damage, the flowering effect of the whole plant is not affected.
Plants of the genus Syringa also have fairly strong drought tolerance. In the Beijing area, July to September is the rainy season, and the other months are the dry season, especially April to June, when the temperature rises rapidly from 10°C to around 28°C. At this time various lilacs are growing and flowering rapidly, yet rainfall is relatively low and evaporation surges to 230-280 mm, but as long as the plants are irrigated twice a month, all kinds of lilacs can grow well and have abundant flowers and lush leaves.
They are not strict about soil and can tolerate poor and thin soil. Except for strongly acidic soil, they can grow normally in all kinds of soil, and neutral soil that is loose is best. Generally, planting in low-lying land should be avoided, as waterlogging will cause disease or even kill the whole plant.
Plants of the genus Syringa are sun-loving trees and like to grow in places with ample sunlight. In shady or semi-shady places they grow thin and weak, and bloom sparsely, but a few species such as the Yunnan lilac require moist air. When cultivating such plants in the north, it is best to choose a small environment with relatively high air humidity, such as a sheltered, sunny spot or the edge of a sparse forest. All kinds of Chinese lilac can bloom from seedlings after 3-4 years of sowing; while species of the subgenus Ligustrina bloom only 4-5 years after sowing, but cuttings or grafted seedlings can bloom in 1-2 years. After 5 years, flowering gradually becomes abundant. Growth vigor is strongest within 5-20 years. After that it gradually declines, but can still maintain life for a very long time; it is recorded that there is an instance of 180 years of age.