PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH
JIM FUNAI, LIC Cuyahoga Community College Exceptionally hardy, Syringa x hyacinthiflora rewards us with an abundance of exquisitely scented flowers in mid spring, about 7-10 days earlier than common lilacs.
SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
SYRINGA X HYACINTHIFLORA EARLY FLOWERING LILAC
Creating a hybrid plant is a process that traditionally consists of taking pollen from one plant species and placing it on the stigma of another. The host then has its stamens removed to prevent contamination. If this plant sets seeds, they are planted and their novel traits observed. This process – while simple – is tedious, requiring years of observation and careful record keeping. It’s a process which humans have engaged in for well over 8,000 years though, producing nearly all of the modern vegetable crops we love today. The sweet corn we all enjoy today started its journey over 8,000 years ago as a tiny grass seed that still exists today (teosinte). In the ornamental plant world, there are some true heroes of plant hybridization who have become forgotten as time goes on. That said, their impact continues to grow in our landscapes. One such hybridizer is Frank Skinner (18821967), a Scottish immigrant to Manitoba, Canada. Skinner realized his plant-nerdery in his teens, dedicating his career to creating and discovering plants that would survive the harsh Canadian prairie 150 miles north of North Dakota. He lived in Dropmore, Manitoba, an area that sees around 90 frost free days a year, many days below zero-degree Fahrenheit, and is prone to drought conditions. They also see several months of humidity and 70 to 80 degrees in their short summer.
20 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
Among many explorations of plant hybrids, perhaps one of the most effective Skinner worked on is a group called the “early flowering lilacs.” He was inspired by Victor Lemoine who made the first cross in France, in 1876. This group of plants are a cross between common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) and broad leaf lilac (Syringa oblata). Several hybridizers worked with plants making these same crosses, including Walter Clarke of San Jose, California, who worked on heat tolerant versions. This wide range of introductions tells us we need to pay close attention to the cultivar we select to be sure it is proven in our region. Interestingly, there are no lilacs native to North America. In this case, S. vulgaris is native to southeastern Europe and S. oblata
