The Lilac Story: Past and Present The Lilac Story: Past and Present Lilac Info Lilac Varieties Lilac Breeders Isabella Preston
Science
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The Science of Lilacs

From just 20 wild species, lilac breeders have developed over 1,600 cultivars. They produce new cultivars by:

  • Allowing pollination to occur naturally, and selecting desirable seedlings


  • Crossing one lilac with another plant of the same species


  • Crossing two or more different species


  • Propagating bud mutations from cuttings or grafts
 		The benefits of good breeding

Traditionally, lilac experts bred plants within one species, or at most, crossed two species. Today, many species can be combined to produce more complex hybrids. 'Miss Canada' and 'Josée' are both complex hybrids resulting from crosses involving three species.

'Miss Canada Lilac'
'Miss Canada' - 61K

Plant paternity

Compare two generations of one lilac "family." 'McMaster Centennial' was developed at Royal Botanical Gardens, its mother (seed parent) is 'Primrose', while its father (pollen parent) is 'Saint Joan'. Do you see a family resemblance?

Sometimes different lilac cultivars look very similar. If a decision is needed on a plant’s pedigree, scientists may need to use DNA fingerprinting for confirmation. 		Registering new lilacs

Once a new cultivar is selected and tested, the breeder may register its name with the International Registration Authority for cultivar names in the Genus Syringa (lilacs), located at Royal Botanical Gardens.

After receiving information from the breeder or selector about the plant’s parentage or source, and its proposed name, the Registrar verifies that the name is not already in use, publishes a description of the plant, and maintains a permanent record.
Trend setters

'Prairie Petite' is one of the first dwarf forms of the common lilac. It was developed from irradiated seed. Breeders use radiation to create mutations in the hope that some of resulting seedlings will have horticultural potential.

'Prairie Petite Lilac'
'Prairie Petite' - 93K

Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation' a two-toned lilac

'Sensation Lilac'
'Sensation'

Lilacs are a favourite cut flower in Europe, but using heat and gas to force early bloom can cause spontaneous mutations. Dutch horticulturist, Dirk Eveleens Maarse, found and rooted this bi-coloured bud mutation (sport) from the purple cultivar 'Hugo de Vries'.

The flower buds of 'Sensation' are made up of two types of cells — those that can produce purple pigment and those that can’t. The latter cells create the white edge on the flower, but occasionally they take over the entire flower bud, resulting in an all-white floret.

Gerrit Maarse (no relation to Dirk Eveleens Maarse) developed 'Primrose' in much the same manner. Breeders hope to transmit and intensify its unique yellow colour.
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