Non flowering lilac
Julie168
Posts: 24
Hi there. Moved to Chesterfield 18 months ago. I have a lilac bush, call it a bush ,it's real big. About 4' wide and 12' tall. Didn't know what it was last year and just pruned it down a bit in the spring, therefore no flowers. Identified it and just left it this year to do its thing. On close inspection it was starting to form flowers and I got very excited. Then they just disappeared. No flowers at all.
Very disappointed. I read that after flowering it's ok to prune. This is what I intend to do. Does anyone know why the flowers just died??? We had the odd hot day in late spring but surely I don't need to water such an established plant. If I prune now will I get flowers next year? If not it can go as I have a small garden as space is needed if it doesn't perform. 
Posts
Frost? We had a late frost this year.
I have the same dilemma with a lilac (actually 2) that've been allowed to become leggy so they're sparse at the base and not flowering with vigour.
I am considering cutting my losses and hoiking them both out.
Wonder what other people think? Are Lilacs really worth their real estate for the 2 - 3 weeks of flower?
Mine at the back is the common purple one and clashes with the gorgeous maple that comes out at the same time and salmon pink and turns into variegated loveliness.
The one at the front fell over early in its life and so grows at an angle. It has had suckers coming up from the base and so had 2 coloured flowers at one time.
Having corrected the sucker issue, I cut it back this year because we had building work going on and it was impeding on the ladder space, The regrowth on these limbs has been vigorous so it made me feel sorry for it - dammnit!!!
Dilemma!
Lilac lovers, give me a reason not to grub out two very well established shrubs: one common purple and the other a fancy white French thing whose common purple rootstock wants to take over.
Good to hear your thoughts.
Hmmmm - I'm also having thoughts about 1 of mine.
I've got a white lilac that is lovely in flower, but then when the flower dies there's just a dirty brown flower head left. It's not a very interesting shrub for the rest of the year.
I think its day's are numbered...
I've also got a Korean (I think) lilac with loose flower heads that flowers for a month or more.
I gave it a severe prune a many years ago just after flowering, and it died. But, a shoot appeared from below ground a couple of years ago, so I'm hoping it may live again
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Perhaps if I give it a severe pruning it may die!!! Pete8. It is very big and I may have to get someone to. dig it out for me!! And Cloggie if you decide to get rid of yours your welcome to mine!! No foliage problems there, growth from top to bottom. Don't know what colour it is as it's done nothing since we have been here.
It won't flower it if doesn't receive enough sun, it needs 6-8 hours of full sun. I have this problem with one here. We have about 8 in the hedgerow, the smell is enough reason to hang on!
Mine were all awful last year but have been superb this year. Maybe just wait and see?
A A Milne
Thank you Mark56 and Lilly Polly. Perhaps I won't be too rash and get rid but I will certainly prune it well.