The Best Way to Grow and Care for Bloomerang® Lilacs!

The lilac! Who doesn’t love the intoxicating smell and stunning clusters of lovely flowers that signal the start of spring like nothing else? That smell might take you back to when you were a kid, to grandma’s garden, and to those first warm days full of hope. But if you’re like me, you’ve definitely stood there, taking deep breaths, and wished that the iconic lilac magic could stay a little longer than it usually does. What if I told you that you might have that amazing sensory experience more than once over the growing season, not just once in a spectacular spring burst? It seems like a gardener’s dream, doesn’t it?

Well, pinch yourself because the dream is over! With the amazing Bloomerang® range of lilacs, this reblooming dream is now a reality. And let me tell you, the best thing is that learning how to produce and care for Bloomerang lilacs is more easier than you may think. They will provide you waves of aromatic color that will make your garden the envy of the neighborhood. I’ve seen these beautiful things perform in person, and they are really something unique.

In this complete tutorial, we’ll go into great detail about all you need to know to grow these amazing shrubs. We’ll talk about how to pick the best type for your location, how to plant them correctly, and all the small tips and tactics that will make sure they put up their amazing show year after year. Get ready for a long season of lilac love that will make your garden smell great!

Discovering the Reblooming Marvel: What Makes Bloomerang Lilac So Special

So, what makes Bloomerang® lilacs different from the lilacs we all grew up with? The name itself gives a major hint: they blossom and then come back for more!

The Reblooming Phenomenon: More Blooms, More Happiness!

Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris and its cousins) are recognized for their beautiful blooms in the middle to late spring, which last for a brief time. That’s pretty much it for flowers for the year once those ones fade. On the other hand, Bloomerang® lilacs are a whole different story. These amazing bushes, which are likewise in the Syringa genus, have been bred to bloom again.

This is how it usually works:

• In the spring, they put on a big, heavy rush of flowers, much like their relatives do.
• Then they take a short break, a little time off in the hot early summer.
• And then, like magic, they start to bloom again in the middle of summer and last until the first harsh frost! It’s not unusual to see new lilac flowers next to your fall asters. Isn’t it amazing?

Dedicated plant breeding has led to this reblooming feature. Breeders choose plants that not only create buds for the next year after their spring show, but also have the strength to make new buds and flowers on the growth of the present season.

Why You’ll Love Them: Key Benefits Over Old-Fashioned Lilacs

There are a lot of good reasons to choose a Bloomerang® lilac:

• Longer Bloom Season: This is definitely the main draw! More flowers for a longer time means more color, more scent, and more chances to cut some for a vase inside.
• Compact Size: Many of the Bloomerang® types have been bred to be smaller and easier to care for than some of the older, very huge classic lilac types. These are great for today’s smaller gardens, foundation plantings, mixed borders, or even thriving in big pots on a patio. I put some of the dwarf types in places where I never believed I could have a lilac!
• Good Disease Resistance: Let’s face it, powdery mildew can really ruin classic lilacs in some areas. The Bloomerang® series has been chosen because it is less likely to get common lilac problems like powdery mildew. This means that the leaves will appear healthier all season long.
• That Lovely Smell: Don’t worry, these new wonders haven’t lost that iconic, enticing lilac scent! They smell great, so your garden will smell as lovely as it looks.

Bloomerang® lilacs are a great addition to almost any sunny garden since they bloom for a long time, are easy to care for, and are healthier than other lilacs.

How to Choose Your Bloomerang® Champion: A Look at Common Types and Things to Think About

Now that you’re probably as enthusiastic about these reblooming miracles as I am, let’s talk about how to pick the best one for your garden. The Bloomerang® line isn’t just one plant; it’s a group of carefully chosen cultivars, each with its own unique beauty.

The Bloomerang® Series in Brief:

The series has a nice spectrum of hues, mostly in shades of purple and pink, and it also has some smaller shapes. When you look around, you’ll usually see the name “Bloomerang®” followed by the name of a certain type.

To get you started, here are some popular types and what makes them unique:

Here are a couple examples that I know people appreciate that have done quite well:

• Bloomerang® Dark Purple: This one is a terrific showstopper because of its dark purple blossoms that smell great. It usually grows to a height and width of 4 to 6 feet, which makes it a good choice for many uses. The color looks great against green leaves.
• Bloomerang® Pink Perfume: This one is great if you like pink. It has beautiful, fragrant pink flowers with a habit that is often a little more erect. It works great in the 4-5 foot area, too.
• Bloomerang® Dwarf Pink and Bloomerang® Dwarf Purple: If you have very little room or want to grow plants in pots, these are the perfect plants for you! They are usually 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, although they have a lot of reblooming potential in a much less space. There’s a Dwarf Pink in a big pot on my patio, and it smells great right next to where I sit.
• Bloomerang® Purple: This was one of the first ones and is still a superb choice. It has traditional lavender-purple blossoms.

It’s always a good idea to check with your local nursery or a trusted online store to see what’s new, as new types are continuously being added.

Things to think about when picking your Bloomerang® Lilac:

To choose the best option, keep these things in mind:

• This is really important: mature size. Look at the plant tag or description to see what the plant should look like when it is fully grown. You want to make sure your lilac has enough space to flourish without becoming too crowded.
• What color do you like most for flowers? Deep purples, delicate lavenders, or pretty pinks?
• Fragrance Strength: All Bloomerangs smell good, but some types may be known for being especially strong.
• Hardiness Zone: Bloomerang® lilacs are usually quite hardy and do well in USDA zones 3–7. Make sure that the type you pick is suited for the weather where you live.
• Space in Your Garden: Be honest about how much space you have. Those dwarf types are great for little spaces!

Where to Get Your Bloomerang® Lilac:

You may find Bloomerang® lilacs at good neighborhood nurseries and garden centers. You can usually find a good selection, and the personnel may know how well they work in your location. If you’re seeking for a certain type of plant, several fantastic internet stores also sell them. Just make sure to pick a source that has high reviews and plants that look healthy.

Planting Your Bloomerang® Lilac: Getting Ready for Smells All Year

You found the perfect Bloomerang® lilac! How wonderful! Now, let’s make sure it gets in the ground right. The best way to ensure your new shrub’s long-term health and those amazing reblooms is to give it a healthy start.

When to Plant: Getting the Timing Right

Most shrubs, like Bloomerang® lilacs, do best when planted in the spring (after the last frost) or early fall.

• By planting in the spring, the lilac has the whole growing season to expand its roots before winter.
• Planting in the fall (approximately four to six weeks before the ground usually freezes) gives the roots time to settle in while the earth is still warm. This gives the plant a head start for the next spring.

Both have worked for me, however if you live in a place where summers are particularly hot, planting in the fall can be less stressful for a young plant.

Choosing the Right Place: What Lilacs Need to Be Happy

Lilacs, such as Bloomerangs, need a few things that they can’t live without:

• Sunlight, sunlight, sunlight! This is very important. To get the most flowers from your Bloomerang® lilacs, they need full sun. That implies they need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight every day. If they don’t get enough light, the plant could turn a little leggy and there won’t be as many flowers. I often warn people not to skimp on the sun if they want those great reblooms.
• Soil that drains well: Lilacs don’t like to have “wet feet,” so they need soil that doesn’t stay waterlogged. They may grow in many different kinds of soil, like clay, loam, and sand, as long as the water drains well. They like soil with a pH level that is neutral to slightly alkaline, which is between 6.5 and 7.5. If your soil is particularly acidic, you might want to add some garden lime to it based on the results of a soil test.
• Good Air Circulation: Planting your lilac where there is good air movement around it helps keep it from getting fungal diseases, especially powdery mildew (while Bloomerangs are more resistant, good circulation is always a good thing!). Don’t stuff them into small spaces where there isn’t any air flow.

Making the Planting Hole Ready: A Good Base

After you’ve found the right place:

• Make a hole for planting that is roughly twice as broad as the root ball of your lilac and the same depth as the root ball. You don’t want to put it in too deep.
• Amending the Soil (If Necessary): If your soil is really heavy clay that doesn’t drain well or very sandy that doesn’t hold water, it’s a good idea to add something to the soil you took out of the hole. Add some good compost or other well-rotted organic materials to the mix. This will make the soil better for growing plants by improving its structure, drainage, and fertility. I normally add one part compost with two parts of the soil that is already there.

Let’s Get It in the Ground: Steps for Planting

• Gently Take Out of the Container: If you need to, carefully slide or cut the lilac out of its nursery pot. Look at the roots. If they are closely around the pot (root-bound), gently pull them apart with your fingertips or make a few vertical cuts in the soil with a clean knife to help them spread out into the new soil.
• Put the plant in the middle of the hole. The top of the root ball should be level with or perhaps a little higher than the soil around it. People often make the mistake of planting too deeply, which can cause complications.
• Fill in the hole with dirt: Start filling in the hole with the adjusted soil, and as you go, carefully press it around the root ball to get rid of any big air pockets. But don’t push it down too hard.
• Water Thoroughly: After filling the hole, carefully and deeply water the lilac you just planted. This will let the water seep in and settle the dirt around the roots. This is a really essential stage.
• Put on the mulch: Finally, put a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch (such shredded bark, wood chips, or compost) around the base of the plant. If you can, spread the mulch out to the edge of the branches, which is called the drip line. It’s also important to keep the mulch a few inches away from the main stem of the lilac. This will stop moisture from building up against the bark, which can cause decay or draw pests.

And that’s it! Your Bloomerang® lilac is in the ground and ready to grow in your garden.

Important tips for keeping your Bloomerang® Lilacs healthy

Your Bloomerang® lilac is now happy in its new home. A little bit of regular care will help it grow and give you those amazing encore performances of blooms. The good news is that once they’re established, they don’t need much care.

Finding the Right Balance for Watering:

• Newly Planted Lilacs: Your new Bloomerang® will need regular hydration for the first growing season to help it create a robust, deep root system. Water it deeply and often, at least once or twice a week, especially if it doesn’t rain often. The ground should be wet but not too wet. It’s far better to soak something well and slowly than to sprinkle it with water a lot.
• Established Plants: After your Bloomerang® lilac has been in the ground for a year or two and its roots have grown strong, it can handle dry weather considerably better. But it will still want a deep watering over long periods of hot, dry weather, especially before and during its bloom periods. During these times, keeping the flowers moist can really improve the spectacle. The most important thing is that the soil drains effectively; they don’t like to be in wet circumstances.

Less is often more when it comes to fertilizing lilacs:

It’s easy to go overboard in this area, and with lilacs, it might really make things worse!

• Most lilacs, including Bloomerang® lilacs, don’t need a lot of food. They frequently do just fine in regular garden soil without needing a lot of extra fertilizer.
• A modest application of a balanced, slow-release shrub fertilizer in early spring, when new growth is just starting to show, is typically all you need if you think your soil is a little weak. Find a fertilizer that is made for flowering trees and shrubs, like a 10-10-10 or something similar.
• A Big Warning: Don’t use too much fertilizer, especially high-nitrogen ones! If you give your lilac too much nitrogen, it may grow a lot of green leaves, but it may not bloom. Too much nitrogen could be the reason why your lilac is growing like crazy but not flowering well.
• Some people who garden like to put a little bone meal around their lilacs when they plant them or as a top-dressing in the early spring. Bone meal is a good supply of phosphorus, which can help flowers and roots grow robust.

What I do? I normally mix compost into the soil well before planting, and then I might give them a very little feeding of organic shrub fertilizer in the early spring. That’s about it. I let the plant tell me whether it needs more. whether it’s growing well and flowering, I don’t interfere with success!

Mulching: A Gardener’s Best Friend

Keeping a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch at the base of your Bloomerang® lilac is an easy thing to do that has a lot of benefits:

• Keeps the soil moist: Mulch keeps water from evaporating from the surface of the soil, so you may not need to water as often.
• It keeps the soil cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, which protects the roots from big changes in temperature.
• Keeps Weeds Away: A thick layer of mulch makes it much tougher for weeds to grow and fight your lilac for water and nutrients. Lilacs are happier when there are fewer weeds (and so are you!).
• As organic mulches like shredded bark or compost break down, they add vital organic matter to the soil. This makes the soil better over time by making it more fertile and changing its texture.

To let air flow freely and keep moisture from getting to the bark, make sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from the main stem of the lilac. Add more mulch as needed, usually in the spring once a year.

The Secret to Getting the Most Out of Your Encore Blooms: Pruning Your Bloomerang® Lilac

This is a very crucial part, especially for Bloomerang® lilacs, because how and when you prune them can have a huge effect on how well they bloom again. It’s a little different than how you would prune regular lilacs that only bloom once, so pay attention!

Why should you cut back Bloomerang® Lilacs? It’s All About Getting More Flowers!

We cut back these reblooming flowers for the following reasons:

• To help reblooming happen and make it as good as possible. This is the main one!
• To keep their form and size excellent.
• To get rid of any branches that are dead, hurt, or crossing.
• To let more air flow through the plant, which helps keep diseases at bay.

The Best Times to Prune: This is What Makes Bloomerangs Different!

Right after the spring flush of blooms is the best time to prune to get those great encore blooms. You should deadhead your spring flowers as soon as the first major wave of them starts to fade.

• How to Deadhead: Just cut off the spent flower trusses (the whole flower cluster) just where they meet a group of leaves or a side branch. You’re basically stopping the plant from making seeds. Plants that spend energy making seeds typically don’t have enough left enough to make new blossoms. When you deadhead a plant, it thinks, “Oops, I didn’t make seeds, I better try again!” and it often makes new bloom buds for the summer and fall show. This job is quite pleasant for me, and the result is well worth it!
• Light Shaping (Optional, After Spring Bloom): If your lilac requires it, you can also shape the light right after you deadhead the spring flowers. Cut back any branches that are growing in a strange way, jutting out too far, or crossing over other branches. But don’t go crazy; just a little cleaning up.

• This is really important: Don’t do a lot of pruning in the late summer or fall. During the summer and fall, Bloomerang® lilacs can start to create the flower buds for their next bloom cycle, which might be later in the season or in the spring of the next year. You could lose those delicate buds and the blossoms that will come later if you prune too much right now.
• Rejuvenation Pruning (Usually Not Needed for a While): Some very old, traditional, and overgrown lilacs can benefit from a more drastic “rejuvenation pruning” where you cut down roughly one-third of the oldest, thickest stems all the way down to the ground over a period of three years. Bloomerang® lilacs are newer types that normally keep their shape and health for longer, so this kind of rigorous pruning isn’t usually needed for many years, if at all. You could think about this if your Bloomerang® ever got really overgrown and woody after a long period, but you should always do it in late winter or early spring before new growth starts.

What NOT to Do When Trimming Bloomerangs:

• Don’t cut them like a hedge that is meant to look nice. This will probably take off flower buds and change their natural, beautiful shape.
• As I said, don’t cut them back too much in the fall or late summer. You’re going to snip off the flowers that will bloom in the future!

The secret to getting the most out of your Bloomerang® lilac’s incredible capacity to bloom again is to deadhead it at the right time after that spring show.

How to Fix Common Problems with Bloomerang® Lilacs and How to Fix Them

Sometimes, even when we take the finest care of our plants, they can still have a few problems. Don’t worry; most problems with Bloomerang® lilacs are easy to fix, especially if you catch them early!

Few or no new blooms? The Gardener’s Sadness!

This is perhaps the most prevalent worry I hear. If your Bloomerang® isn’t flowering as beautifully as you had planned, here are the most likely reasons why:

• Not Enough Sun: I know I sound like a broken record, but this is almost always the main reason why lilacs don’t bloom well. They really require 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight every day. If your lilac is in a place that has gotten shadier over time, maybe because trees have grown nearby, you might want to think about moving it or giving it more light.
• Not Pruning (or Not Pruning):
  • Did you deadhead just after the spring flowers died? If not, the plant might have used its energy to make seeds instead of new flowers.
  • Did you cut back too late in the season and take off flower buds that were just starting to grow?
• Too Much Nitrogen Fertilizer: Do you remember what we talked about with fertilizer? Too much nitrogen makes a lot of leaves but not enough blooms. If you’ve been using a lot of high-nitrogen lawn fertilizer nearby, it could be hurting your lilac.
• The Plant is Still Too Young: A newly planted Bloomerang® lilac may need a season or two to properly settle in and grow a strong root system before it starts to bloom again. Give young plants time to grow!
• Drought Stress: Lilacs that have been around for a while can handle dry weather, but really dry weather for a long time, especially during the time when buds are forming, might affect blossoming. Make sure there is always enough moisture during dry spells.
• Extreme Weather: Very unusual weather patterns, like a harsh frost that comes very late after buds have started to swell, can sometimes disrupt flowering, but this isn’t as typical.

Most of the time, these pests aren’t a big deal for Bloomerangs:

The good news is that most of the time, Bloomerang® lilacs don’t get many pests. But you might run into:

• Scale Insects: Check the stems for small, stationary lumps. Sometimes these can be a problem.
• Lilac Borers: These bugs dig into the stems. Check for branches that are wilting and small holes with frass that looks like sawdust. Cut off the stems that are impacted.
• Leaf Miners: These make squiggly tunnels in the leaves. Most of the time, it’s more of a cosmetic problem than a real threat.

What to do: A powerful spray of water can get rid of most little pests. For problems that don’t go away easily, like scale, horticultural oil or insecticidal soap can work if you use them at the correct time, like when scale crawlers are active. The greatest approach to protect your plants is to keep them healthy.

The most common disease is powdery mildew.

This is the white, powdery covering that you could see on lilac leaves, especially when the weather is damp or the plants are too close together.

Good news: Compared to many older types, Bloomerang® lilacs have been developed to be better at fighting powdery mildew!

Preventing is the most important thing. Give your lilac ample room to let air flow through it. To keep the leaves dry, water the plant at the base, not on the leaves. In the fall, rake up and throw away the leaves that have fallen. The fungus can live on them all winter.

If powdery mildew does show up and is bad, you can treat it with fungicides that are specifically made for it, like those that include neem oil, sulfur, or potassium bicarbonate in them. Use as directed on the label. If it shows up late in the season, it’s usually only a cosmetic problem and doesn’t hurt the plant too much.

Most other diseases, such bacterial blight or leaf spots, are less common on Bloomerang® lilacs that are healthy and in the right place. The greatest way to protect yourself is to follow good cultural practices.

Beyond the Blooms: How to Enjoy Your Bloomerang® Lilac All Year Long!

Bloomerang® lilacs are famous for their amazing ability to bloom again and again, but there are additional ways to enjoy these great shrubs all season long!

Cut Flowers: Bring That Smell Inside!

Yes, for sure! Bloomerang® lilacs are great cut flowers that smell great. What if you could get fresh lilac bouquets all year round, not only in the spring?

• Cutting Tips: Cut the stems in the cool of the early morning when the blooms are just starting to open. About a third to half of the florets in a truss should be open. Use scissors or sharp pruners.
• Conditioning: Put the cut stems right away into a pail of cool water. You can cut the stems again at an angle while they are in water and take off any leaves that would fall below the waterline in your vase. Some people also like to softly crush the last inch or so of woody stems to assist them take in water. A floral preservative can also help them last longer in a vase.

Getting Pollinators to Your Garden:

Lilacs are pretty flowers that smell well, so butterflies and other pollinators might come to visit them. It’s always nice to see all the life in your garden!

They can be used in a lot of different ways in the landscape.

We talked about this before, but it’s worth going over again how useful Bloomerang® lilacs are in the garden:

• A single, well-grown Bloomerang® can be a beautiful focal point in a specimen plant.
• Informal Hedges or Screens: You can plant some of the bigger types in a row to make a lovely, fragrant, flowering hedge. Just remember not to cut them formally!
• Mixed borders look great with other shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Because they blossom again, they add color when other spring flowers are done flowering.
• Container Gardening: The great miniature Bloomerang® types are suitable for gardening in big pots and containers on patios, decks, or balconies. Picture that scent right next to where you sit outside! Make sure the pot has sufficient drainage and that you use a suitable potting mix.

Interest in Fall (A Small Bonus):

Some lilac types, like some Bloomerangs, can get a nice yellowish or purplish tint to their leaves in the fall, even though they aren’t grown mostly for their fall color. This adds a little extra interest to the season before the leaves fall.

In conclusion, there is a symphony of lilac scents and sights every season!

There you have it: your complete guide to the wonderful world of Bloomerang® lilacs! These bushes are a real gift to any garden, big or small. They have a lovely smell that brings back so many happy memories, a wide range of flower colors, and the amazing capacity to bloom again and again.

As you’ve seen in this article, cultivating and taking care of Bloomerang lilacs is a really satisfying activity that gives you a longer season of that classic lilac charm right at your door. It’s not about using intricate methods or worrying all the time. It’s about knowing what they need—lots of sun, soil that drains well, and a little pruning at the right time—and then letting them do their spectacular reblooming thing.

So, I strongly urge you to take advantage of the chance to do more of what you love. You can plant a Bloomerang® lilac (or maybe a several; I won’t tell if you can’t help it!). If you pay a little attention to your Bloomerang® lilacs’ needs, they will reward you with waves of beautiful flowers and that wonderful smell for many years to come. Happy gardening, and I hope your seasons are full of the smell of lilacs!

Bloomerang® Lilacs: Frequently Asked Questions

People often ask me a few typical questions about these reblooming plants, so here are some simple answers:

How long does it take for a Bloomerang® lilac to bloom again?

A good rebloom usually happens in the first or second year after planting, when the plant has had time to settle down and grow its roots. Young plants might not bloom as much as first, but as the plant gets older, the show gets better each year.

Do deer stay away from Bloomerang® lilacs?

Lilacs are generally thought to be somewhat resistant to deer. This means that deer will usually leave them alone if there are other food sources that taste better. But if there is a lot of deer activity in your area or if they are really hungry, they might eat just about anything. There is no such thing as a plant that is 100% deer-proof!

Is it possible to grow Bloomerang® lilacs in pots or other containers?

Yes, of course! One of its best qualities is the dwarf Bloomerang® types, like Dwarf Pink or Dwarf Purple. Pick a big container with good drainage holes that can hold at least 15–20 gallons of water for long-term development. Choose a good potting mix. Plants in pots may need more water and fertilizer than plants on the ground.

Do Bloomerang® lilacs need more fertilizer than regular lilacs because they bloom more than once?

Not always. As we talked about, they usually don’t eat a lot. A small application of a balanced, slow-release shrub fertilizer in the early spring is generally all you need. Too much fertilizer, especially nitrogen, might actually stop flowers from blossoming. Make sure the soil is healthy and that there is plenty of sun.

Why do the summer and fall flowers on my Bloomerang® occasionally look smaller or less bright than the great spring flush?

This is very normal. The spring bloom is usually the biggest and most beautiful. The flowers that bloom again in the summer and fall might be a little lighter and have smaller flower trusses, but they will still smell great and be enough to produce a magnificent display. Think of them as fun extra rounds of color and smell!

Do I really need to cut off the dead flowers on my Bloomerang® lilacs for them to bloom again?

Yes, deadheading after the spring flush is highly advised to stimulate the best and most prolific rebloom, even though some reblooming might happen without it. Taking away those dead spring flowers stops the plant from making seeds and tells it to make additional bloom buds instead. It really does make a big impact!

I hope this helps you on your adventure with Bloomerang® lilacs! They really are a pleasure to cultivate.