Lilac

In the early 1940s, Dr. Walter Lammerts, a UCLA plant biologist, began developing lilacs with mild winter requirements. Descanso founder, E. Manchester Boddy, hired Dr. Lammerts in 1945 to lead a breeding program at Descanso Gardens where he continued his lilac research. Eventually his work and others at Descanso lead to introducing ‘Lavender Lady,’ (pictured) ‘Angel White’ and many other lilacs to the nursery trade.

Today Descanso’s Lilac Grove exhibits more than 400 plants and 250 varieties of the fragrant plant. The best time to visit is from mid-March to the end of April (all depending on nature), when lilacs put on an attractive display of blooms showcasing a near-rainbow of colors—white, violet, blue, pink, magenta and purple.

Descanso gardeners have one trick to promote blooms. Watering is stopped mid-September which forces the lilacs into dormancy. Once flowers bloom, watering is resumed and dead flowers are snipped. Pruning and fertilizing are done to keep flowers at smelling height and promote good health.

Each spring, Descanso hosts its’ annual plant sale when many lilac varieties are available along with some new ones. For the dates of Descanso’s spring plant sale check our events section of the website.