What do I do with my ‘baby’ shrubs?
QI have a small plant of a Chinese blue wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and tree lilac (Syringa amurensis) that I grew from seed. What are the next steps I should take to care for them?
Margery McGowan, Clackmannan, Central Lowlands
AContinue to keep your Chinese blue wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) in a pot until it is robust enough to be planted into the ground. Repot it into a slightly bigger pot once roots appear through the bottom of the pot.
Make sure the compost is kept moist during spells of dry weather over the summer. Overwinter it in an unheated greenhouse or coldframe if possible.
Wisteria do best in a warm, sunny and sheltered spot, preferably south or south-west facing, with moist welldrained soil. Sadly, wisteria grown from seed usually result in poor-quality plants that take many years (as long as 20 years) to flower and then they flower unreliably. It is much better to start a new plant from a cutting or to buy a grafted plant that’s a few years old.
In contrast to wisteria, you can expect very good results from your seed-raised tree lilac.
Gently tip it out of its pot and if it has a well-developed root system it can be planted into the border now.
Lilacs also grow well in pots, so you could keep it in its pot long-term if you wish. It will grow taller if planted in the ground than it will in a pot.
Lilac grow best in full sun, in fertile, humus-rich soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. The soil should be moist but well drained.