Lilacs are famous for those stunning, fragrant blooms, and one of the best ways to grow more of them is through grafting. Don’t worry—you don’t need to be a professional botanist to pull this off! A little bit of a “green thumb” is more than enough to get started. Grafting works especially well with newer varieties, often called “French lilacs” or common lilac cultivars.
What exactly is grafting?
You’ve probably heard the term “grafting” tossed around in gardening circles, but not everyone knows the science behind it. To get technical for a second, it’s a form of propagation known as xenovegetative reproduction.
In plain English? You’re basically taking two different plants and joining them together to create one single plant. Think of it as a botanical partnership. You start with a “rootstock,” which provides the root system and all the nutrients the plant needs to thrive.
When it comes to lilacs, the rootstock is usually a hardy Common Lilac (*Syringa vulgaris*). You then take a piece of your favorite fancy cultivar (the “scion”) and attach it to that rootstock. For the best results, your scion should have at least three pairs of buds, and the best time to do this is around July. Just make sure your lilac is at least two years old before you try grafting onto it.
Why bother with grafting?
So, why go through the trouble? For starters, grafting creates incredibly strong, hardy plants that will grace your garden for years to come. It’s also a very reliable and relatively easy way to multiply your collection without needing a ton of expensive supplies.
One of the coolest things for us home gardeners is the ability to grow multiple varieties on a single rootstock. Imagine a “multi-color” lilac bush with different shades of purple, pink, and white all blooming on one plant—it’s a total showstopper! Grafting is also a great solution if you love a specific flower but aren’t a fan of the plant’s natural habit, like if it grows too tall or has an awkward shape. By grafting it onto a different rootstock, you can actually control the growth style.
