Lilacs: Beautiful varieties for home and garden

By Naomi Slade, Photographs by Georgianna Lane

A celebration of an iconic bloom, Lilacs offers advice on how to care for and propagate these exquisite flowers.

Naomi Slade explores a wide range of different lilac species and cultivars, all beautifully photographed by Georgianna Lane – showcasing not only Syringa‘s delightful shades of purple and mauve but also the whites, blues and yellows.

Announcing the changing of the seasons and the coming of summer, Lilacs are ubiquitous both within gardens and as a wild flower. Their scented flowers are well-known to many with whorls of fragrant blossom sitting perfectly at nose-height.

Symbolising first love, their fleeting bouquet can provoke a sense of nostalgia. As a garden flower they became a popular choice in the eighteenth century, particularly across North America, and lingering shrubs and blooms in the wild are a telltale indication of where earlier dwellings might have been.

Naomi Slade explores a wide range of different Lilacs, drawing our attention to the varying shades of pink, lavender, mauve, burgundy and of course, lilac, and also to white, blue and yellow varieties. Lilacs are durable plants and this book offers advice on how to care for and propagate your flowers, how to identify rare species and practical tips for how to get the most glorious blooms and the most bountiful cut flowers.

Format: Hardback
Release Date: 07 Apr 2022
Pages: 240
ISBN: 978-1-911663-96-6
Price: £25.00, £25.00 (Export Price) , €None
Naomi Slade is a journalist, author and designer specialising in gardening, environment and lifestyle. A regular contributor to magazines including Gardens Illustrated and RHS The Garden, she has a long-running column in Garden News magazine and has written ten books. Winner of the Garden Media Guild Practical Journalist of the Year Award in 2022, Naomi has also presented on BBC Gardeners’ World and co-designed the Flood Re: Flood Resilient Garden for RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 2024.Georgianna Lane is one of the world’s leading floral and garden photographers whose images have been published internationally in books, magazines, calendars and lifestyle products. Her many books include Vintage Roses, Peonies, Hydrangeas and Lilacs. She lives in Paris. Follow Georgianna on Instagram (@georgiannalane) or visit georgiannalane.com

For Dahlias:'A comprehensive, quick-reference guide. This is a visually stunning book with superb photography, which makes it a beautiful experience to turn each page - a great introduction to the genus.' - Gardens Illustrated Magazine -

'Simply glorious.' - Daily Mail Weekend -

'Handsomely produced and lushly illustrated.' - The Irish Times -

For Ranunculus -

”Naomi Slade 'goes the extra mile, giving us added bits of useful information that can really help gardeners develop their practical knowledge.” - - Garden Media Guild Award Winner 2022

‘A colourful, informative book that is an inspiring read for anyone who loves these luxurious, abundant blooms..' - Gardens Illustrated -

For Hydrangeas: -

'Instantly re-educates and inspires, leaving one determined to uproot half the garden and replant it with hydrangeas.' - The Sunday Times -

For Peonies: -

”'Simply flicking through the pages … is a sensualist’s dream.” - - The Sunday Times