White Lilac Tree.

My white lilac looks to have only one flowering stem this year. Right at the top. Very disappointing. It has been very floriferous in previous years.

I wonder why? I have two this one is 50+ years old. The other is L. Madame Lemoine which has double flowers. It flowers slightly later.

Mine is Mme Lemoine. No idea. But I do know that Lilacs can be temperamental.

I'm learning again. I thought lilacs were very easy and almost big weeds lol. I will check on Mme Lemoine later.

I'm going to try giving it some Phosphorus. Having looked into it, I think this is the likeliest cause. I haven't pruned it, and it gets plenty of sunlight. It's roots aren't restricted either....at least not to my knowledge. It hasn't had a late frost..there are just no buds except at the very top on the leading shoot. So it looks like Phosphoros deficiency might be the answer. They don't like fertilizer and I feed everything with liquid seaweed, so that might be it.

Bone meal, which I use does protect against phosphorus deficiency but I know you do not use it because you have dogs. If the lilac is growing next to the lawn it could be stealing nitrogen from the feed used on the lawn. That would encourage foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Do keep us informed as to the outcome of your trials.

I will Sheila. Thank you!