My lilac is blooming! ???

Question

I live in northern Michigan. There is snow on the ground here.

... And my lilac is blooming!

OK, so they're not big, tall flower spikes like normal; they're small clumps of flowers, but flowers nevertheless.

What is going on? What would cause a lilac to bloom at this time of year? And what will happen next spring? Are my flower buds for the spring now gone? Is there anything special that I should do to help the lilac for the upcoming spring?

Answer 1

Your lilacs have become confused due to warmer fall than usual. When the cold weather really get here they will go into the dormant state again and should be OK comes spring.

Answer 2

I wouldn't have answered but I couldnt help but notice the truly intelligent response from Izzy. I also live in Northern Michigan but our Fall hasnt been particularly warm in comparison to other Falls. Howevr, I have had a lot of plants this year blooming at the wrong time or exhibiting strange behavior. I planted border dahlias in Spring and they did not bloom until the end of October. I had hollihocks in full bloom in May. My nasturtiums did not bloom until August and my fuschia is still blooming even though we have gone below freezing for quite a few nights now. I can't explain any of this but I do live in Northern MI. Leave your lilac alone and dont prune off the growth. If the buds have set probably only a few have actually participated in this strange blossoming and pruning now might cause your lilac to not bloom in Spring. Catch you next year on answers and we can see if we still have plants blooming at the wrong time of year. Oh yeah, I also had a sunflower sprout in September and bloom in October when all the rest were done.

Answer 3

Maybe just a quirk of nature. I've seen redbud and dogwood bloom in the Fall, not full bloom, but blooms here and there.

Cutting them back, which you shouldn't do with lilac now, will sometimes make them bloom a little. I cut back a crabapple a few weeks ago and it now has a few blooms on the stub.

I'm no scholar, but I believe plants have a survival technique. After Ivan hit here a few years ago (in Sept) almost every tree, from magnolias to pears, bloomed. On some of them it was a pretty heavy bloom.

Answer 4

YES, i LIVE IN Massachusetts, Lilacs, P.J.M. rhododendrons and the large leaf ones are blooming also.
My Autumn Clematis has bloomed twice as well.
Just today I say bearded Iris, white ones in full bloom.
As for help, Well plenty of water going into dormancy,
water deeply once a week. And lime, lilacs need a neutral PH. to grow in. Maybe if they are young bushes, not established yet, you might want to burlap and mulch them in for the winter.
If they are old bushes, then early in the spring cut out the oldest wood sand let the new wood take over .

Answer 5

If you fertilized them late that may have caused them to bloom in the fall and there is a very good chance you may not have any flowers next year.

Answer 6

Ours blooms twice: spring & fall. We cut off blooms in spring, then they grow in fall also (but smaller). Next spring you will have usual blooms again.

Answer 7

congratulations! ur lilacs are blooming! wat do want as a prize u want a lollipop or an old smelly, sweaty gym sock? big deal with plants growing

Answer 8

weird :)