WHY LILACS FAIL TO BLOOM 
We are asked a number of times during the course of# the year, 
“Why do my Lilacs fail to bloom?” 
It is impossible to answer this question satisfactorily by letter. 
There are a number of reasons why Lilacs fail to blpom. We 
cannot tell which special reason is applicable in each individual 
case. We are giving a number of causes in this catalog and leav- 
ing you to decide which of these fit your individual problem. 
We have no difficulty here at the nursery. Our plants are 
loaded with flowers each year and if your plants are not giving 
satisfactory bloom, some one of the following causes must be 
responsible. 
1. Your plants may not have been handled carefully enough when you made 
your planting. The roots may have been exposed to the air and some of the 
vitality of the plant weakened. A bundle of Lilacs comes to you and this 
bundle is often opened up and the plants separated and looked over. Then they 
are laid out in the sun or shade while the holes for them are dug and the 
planting goes on. The plants grow but they received a setback from this ex¬ 
posure of the roots and it often takes 2 or 3 years to overcome this mistreatment. 
2. It may be the roots were not spread out carefully and soil packed tightly 
about them at planting time. The roots may have become jammed in a cramped 
and twisted mass in the hole, and growth stunted. In filling in the hole dry 
dirt may have been pulled in over the roots and so reduced the vitality of the 
plant as to check its right growth for several years. 
3. The young plant may be planted so close to trees or larger shrubs as to 
rob it of much of its vitality. 
4. It may be in too much shade or in dry gravelly soil. Lilacs like a rich 
heavy soil but not a wet acid soil. 
5. It may be your plants are making altogether too much growth and that 
such growth needs checking. Or they may have formed a great mass of heavy 
branches from the ground with a tremendous branchy top growth and have 
reached a point where they have stopped going forward and produce no bloom. 
If your plants are making a very rapid growth, sending out long new shoots 
with no bloom, go through your plants about the middle of June and trim out 
about one-half of the new growths back to the old wood. This will have a 
tendency to cause blooming buds to set on the balance of the new growth for 
the next year. If your bushes have a great many branches from the ground and 
many short top branches gp through your plants in March in the north or 
earlier in the south (before the sap starts) and cut out about one-half of the 
old branches to the ground. This will cause a new growth which no doubt will 
bring the plant into heavy blooming. 
Now any of the foregoing causes might be the reason your Lilacs are not 
blooming. You are in a position to analyse your difficulty much better than we. 
We have no further information to offer. 
An orange tag giving full directions for the planting and care of your Lilacs 
is attached to every order of Lilacs that leaves our packing department. Watch 
for this card. Read it carefully before you open your package and then follow 
directions. Keep this card in your files and consult it if you need our advice. 
EDMUND BOSSIER. S. This is a new single red or red-purple that 
pleases us very, very much. It is the latest of the single reds except 
possibly Volcan, and the color is so exceedingly soft and rich that we 
class it as a “must have” Lilac. This Lilac is absolutely No. 1. 
2 to 3 ft., $4.00; 3 to 4 ft., $5.00 
GEHEIMRAT SINGLEMARK. S. A very deep blue-purple. This is a 
very dark lilac. The long, upright panicles are made up of many 
small lobes that add to the attractiveness of the flower. The plant is 
tall and upright growing. A good variety. 
2 to 3 ft., $2.00; 3 to 4 ft., $2.50 
GUDRON. D. Large florets, double to semi-double, in open, much- 
branched clusters. Argyle purple to a light pinkish lilac without, 
and Saccardo’s violet streaked with pale lobelia-violet within. One of 
the newer, much-prized sorts. 2 to 3 ft., $5.00 
HENRI LUTECE. S. A hybrid between S. villosa and S. Josikea, 
with a round, shapely bush about midway in size between the 
two parents. The blooms are large, open, plumelike in appear¬ 
ance, held erect and of a beautiful light violet in color. Has the 
heavv foliage of Josikea. Fine ornamental shrub. 
2 to 3 ft., $1.50; 3 to 4 ft., $2.00 
HENRI MARTIN. D. Extremely long, graceful panicles. Beautiful blue- 
lavender—a splendid new Lilac. Our show plants of Henri Martin 
are right by the path as we go from the office to the trial fields beyond. 
We pass it many times a day when it is in bloom and we always stop 
and marvel at its beauty. A Lilac of most beautiful form. 
2 to 3 ft., $4.00; 3 to 4 ft., $5.00 
HIPPOLYTE MARINGER. D. Taken one year after another this is 
probably the largest of all Lilacs. Reverse of petals while in the bud 
are a deep violet-blue opening into an immense truss of lace-like petals 
in a delightful blending of pink and delicate shades of blue. We al¬ 
ways classify this as one of the sensations of the Lilac world. 
2 to 3 ft., $2.00; 3 to 4 ft., $3.00 
JAN VAN TOL. S. An extremely fine new single white. Panicles of 
most beautiful form composed of the largest single florets to be found 
in a single white; very sweet scented. The longer we grow this Lilac 
the more we like it. It must become thoroughly established before it 
begins to show its true qualities. It demands a rich soil and good care. 
So provided for we have seen it produce panicles of such beauty that 
we have never seen it equaled by any other single white. 
2 to 3 ft., $3.50; 3 to 4 ft., $4.00 
J. de MESSEMAKER. S. A tall, strong growing bush with heavy 
dark foliage. Trusses long, upright, pyramidal and in great profusion. 
Single florets very large. Color which lasts a long time in the sun is 
an intense deep, dark red-purple. Wine-red in general color effect. 
2 to 3 ft., $2.00; 3 to 4 ft., $3.00 
JEAN MACE. D. Bluish mauve. Very pretty Lilac. A tremendous 
bloomer. Immense, full panicles. It just seems as though there 
couldn’t be another floret crowded in. Very thrifty bush that grows 
erect and shapely, and is very ornamental even after the blooms are 
gone. 2 to 3 ft., $2.00; 3 to 4 ft., $2.50 
JOSIKAEA (Hungarian Lilac). S. A distinct late flowering species. 
It forms a small tree if desired, otherwise grows naturally as a 
bush. Has large, shining leaves, and dark purple flowers. Here is 
another variety that will prolong your blooming season. 
2 to 3 ft., $1.00; 3 to 4 ft., $1.50 
JULES FERRY. D. Long, very large clusters of silvery mauve florets 
and rose-red buds. One seldom sees this Lilac but it is one of the 
finest of all Lilacs on the pink order. Something exceedingly fine. 
2 to 3 ft., $2.00; 3 to 4 ft., $2.50 
JULES SIMON. D. An erect growing variety with very clean limbs and 
a heavy, clean, light green foliage. Expanding buds show much bright 
intense rose. Opening truss becomes a very rich clear velvety light 
blue. 2 to 3 ft., $2.00; 3 to 4 ft., $3.00 
KATHARINE HAVEMEYER. D. A splendid Lilac which we like more 
and more the longer we have it. It is always an outstanding variety 
among all our plantings. Trusses are immense, very full double, very 
rich and of a most beautiful mauve-pink. A very thrifty bush. One 
of the most persistent of bloomers. Nearly every 3- to 4-foot bush 
bloomed in the nursery row in 1938. One 4-foot plant had 18 large 
trusses and 3 small ones. 2 to 3 ft., $2.50; 3 to 4 ft., $3.50 
LA-VOICIE. S. A very free-flowering variety of recent introduction 
that is very attractive because of the immense amount of bloom and 
the peculiar petal formation after the flowers become full open. Sort 
of a red-purple with a strong suffusion of pink. The panicles take 
on a peculiar and attractive appearance because of the reflexing and 
twisting of the petals. 2 to 3 ft., $3.50 
LEON GAMBETTA. D. Panicles of the greatest size. Buds and reverse 
of petals very pink, which gives the flower a general pink effect. Deep 
pink buds open into very double little roselike florets of the daintiest 
pink and lavender. We still say it is the finest of all Lilacs and we want 
to emphasize this. There are many fine Lilacs, but we believe this is 
the most beautiful of all. 2 to 3 ft., $3.00; 3 to 4 ft., $5.00 
LUCETTA. S. Another of the Villosa Hybrids, having much the 
same foliage and bush habits. This variety is desirable as it comes 
into bloom after the French Lilacs are all gone, prolonging the 
lilac season by at least 10 days. The Villosa Hybrids have much 
prettier bush habit than does the Villosa parent. Lucetta is a deep 
pink. IB to 24 in., $2.00 
JHUclc ^btifdcuf, 
If you wish to see one of the finest displays of French Lilacs in 
the country, come to our nursery the last two weeks in May. You 
will see panicles of French Lilacs that actually measure 13 inches 
in length. Our Persian Hedge is well worth driving many miles 
to see. Our grounds are always open to visitors. At this same 
time you will also see hundreds of varieties of Iris in full bloom. 
Many people bring their cameras and take pictures of our Lilacs 
in their natural colors. 
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