Adaptations of the Wild Lilac

Attraction to Insects

• Wild lilacs bloom in the early to late spring when they erupt in sweet-smelling blossoms that range from white and light blue to different shades of purple. This combination of scent and color attracts bees and butterflies that are needed for the pollination of the flowers and the production of the seeds for the next generation of wild lilacs. The blooms are also known to attract birds to the plant. There are a number of hybrid varieties as they will reproduce quite easily with other species.

Water Usage

• Many of the areas where the wild lilac grows are subject to long periods of drought and dryness. It has adapted to these dry conditions and thrives during long, rain-free summers. If the ground becomes too wet and saturated, the roots will rot. From the varieties of wild lilacs that grow as groundcover to the tall evergreen bushes, these plants prefer well-drained soil where water is absorbed and taken away from their roots quickly. Several drenchings with rainwater each season are more than enough water to keep the deep green leaves healthy. Preferably, the soil should be perfectly dry before water is applied to the plant's roots.

Soil Quality

• The wild lilac is one of the wildflowers that can be found growing native throughout the Rocky Mountains and they have adapted well to the rocky soils there. The rocky soils also act to give them the well-drained conditions they need to prevent their roots from rotting. Although these flowers need nutrient-rich soils, they have adapted to conditions from rocky soils to those with a heavy clay content. They can grow in some areas that might not support many wildflowers between the soil's makeup and a high lime content.

Resistances

• Wild lilacs come in a variety of shapes and sizes from short and sprawling to tall and bushy. The leaves of the varieties of wild lilac also have different shapes. In areas where hungry deer can strip a plant in the winter months, some of these evergreen species have developed small leaves that are highly unattractive to deer and other foraging animals, although some varieties can be incredibly susceptible to feeding deer. There are few insects that infect these plants, which can be susceptible to aphids and some kinds of flies, although the damage is generally not severe.