Why lilacs produce lucky flowers and why they don't last in a vase

There are many myths and interesting facts about lilac. Flowers come in two main types: purple and white, with white being evolutionarily younger. The article explores lilac's peculiar growth habits and characteristics.

Among lilac lovers there is one saying that rings true: lilacs come in two types – purple and fake. While this is obviously a joke, it contains a grain of truth, because purple lilacs are indeed older and more original than their white cousins.

From a botanical perspective, white lilacs arose through mutations and are evolutionarily younger than the purple-flowered ancestor forms. So both have their place in nature, but purple lilacs carry a longer history within them.

One of the most well-known characteristics of lilac is the so-called lucky flowers – florets within clusters that differ from the typical four-petalled blooms, featuring five or more petals, which are believed in folk tradition to bring good fortune. Their creation is a biological accident, not a deliberate phenomenon.

The well-known fact that lilac doesn't last long in a vase is also well-established among experienced flower growers. Once cut, lilacs rapidly deplete their water reserves and often refuse to absorb sufficient moisture – which is why they wilt faster than many other cut flowers.