Add Lilac Vine to Backyard Flower Gardens :
As the arrival of spring draws near, take a time to take a look around your garden and determine the areas where plants could flourish to create a beautiful backdrop for your backyard. Gardeners tend to cultivate flowers in containers and beds the most of the time. On the other hand, we tend to overlook that blossoming vines can be utilized to cover bare walls and fences with flowers, thereby making them appear more attractive. One of my favorite plants is the purple lilac vine. Enjoy!v
Lilac Vine: Care and Growing Tips
- Botanical name: Hardenbergia violacea
- Common name: Purple lilac vine
- Zones: 9 to 11
- Light needs: Partial to full sun
One of the things that I do not like about the brick wall that surrounds my home is the way that it looks. I find that hanging rose vines on the wall is something that I appreciate doing for this reason. Purple flowers start to appear around the middle of winter and continue to do so until the beginning of spring. This phenomenon continues till spring season arrives. In order for it to flower more successfully, you should plant it in a position that is bright and with soil that does not grow soggy. The use of a trellis as a support structure is a prerequisite for its existence.
The soil in Australia is where this plant was first discovered. Additionally, it is sometimes known to as a purple coral pea or an Australian lilac. Both of these names are used interchangeably. While the lilac vine is not related to the more well-known lilac bush (Syringa), which has lovely, fragrant spring blooms, it is a useful plant for southwestern desert gardening because it produces flowers that are a similar hue to those of the Syringa. This is because the lilac vine produces flowers that are similar in color to those of the Syringa.
Use Lilac Vine as a Ground Cover Plant
Vines climbing up a wall or fence is something most of us have seen before. But have you ever thought about putting them down as a ground cover too?
It was always fun for me to try new things in the feature areas when I worked as a horticulturist for golf grounds years ago. I put down purple lilac plants as a ground cover one year.
I have to say that the results were better than I thought they would be. The plants did really well on the ground. They would get trimmed about twice a year to keep them from getting too big.
The plants looked nice even when they weren’t flowering; they were a nice ground cover.
Every three years, we cut the vines back very close, to about 1 foot, which made them grow back stronger. The plants I put along the golf course are still there after more than ten years.
When should you cut back lilacs?
How to Choose the Best Flowering Vine for Your Landscape
Ask the person at the local farm the following questions before you choose a vine for your flower garden in the back yard.
- Is the vine considered invasive in your climate?
- Will it need a trellis, or can it climb without one?
- What type of exposure is best —full sun or shade?