Lilacs are just purple flowers to some but to lilac expert Beryl Lee they are a lifelong passion and she’s thrilled to see them flowering and smelling sweetly in Central this spring.

Dunedin-based Beryl showed visitors around her collection of around 40 types of American, French and English lilacs, during Vallance Cottage’s open day on Sunday (October 23).

“The season is relatively short, [in] probably six weeks from now, they’ll all be gone,” Beryl said.

The collection in Alexandra is flowering with many shades of purple, violet, indigo, blue, white, magenta, and pinks to see, along with a delicate fragrance you can catch on the breeze.

Weather plays a big role in the success of the plants.

“They need a cold winter to set bud… and then a hot dry summer…Dunedin is actually behind, and some are out here that aren’t back at my place yet.”

There is a short flowering season so check out the lilac beds now

After collecting varieties for many years Beryl started looking for somewhere to plant her collection in 2014.

Vallance Cottage reserve was suggested by Ian Mann in the parks team at Central Otago District Council (CODC).

Beryl said it was ideal as it was public land, and close to the rail trail; beloved by her and her late husband. 

Nine people helped her to plant approximately 60 lilacs, including some rare varieties, in 2019. They were originally labelled but the signs have since been damaged. 

Beryl is identifying which varieties are in which bed again, her expertise and knowledge in terms of colour, flower structure, leaf shape and size helping her to make a map of plantings and species for the future.

A CODC spokesperson said work is underway to give visitors to the collection on site information about each variety.

Beryl says lilacs can be a challenge to propagate, requiring digging up a “sucker” with roots (a small shoot that grows from around the base).

“I’m quite quiet and reserved generally. I’ve been known to go up to knock on a stranger's door… I wouldn’t do it for anything except for lilacs.”

Beryl, a retired teacher, has travelled to Europe and Russia to speak about Lilacs and attend conferences. She’s also had pieces published in The Gardeners Journal about her passion.  

Relatives of the Vallance family attended the open day, along with volunteers who have been collating stories of the cottage and keeping its history alive in recent years.

A steady stream of locals enjoyed lovely warm weather and a chance to imagine what life was like in the 1890s. 

The cottage and one of the original lilac bushes

William Vallance and his wife Jean had eight children in the mudbrick cottage, which grew to accommodate everyone.  

In New Zealand you can buy eight varieties of lilacs from garden centres. 

Anyone interested in lilacs can email Beryl.

A collection of family photos has been added inside the cottage