New lilac varieties at the NRU “BelSU” Botanical Garden

Twenty-five lilac seedlings of eleven varieties were planted at the NRU “BelSU” Botanical Garden’s syringaria as part of the “Belgorod Lilac” project initiated by the Governor Yevgeny Savchenko three years ago. The project is part of the world-class Belgorod scientific and educational center “Innovative solutions in the agricultural sector”. Rector of the Belgorod State University, Professor Oleg Polukhin, vice-rectors, heads and employees of the botanical garden took part in the planting procedure. As the University Rector noted, a unique collection of lilacs was created at the botanical garden, and today it has become the largest not only in Russia but also in the CIS. By the end of the month, the botanical garden collection will include 326 varieties.

- The planting of new varieties of lilacs is one of the stages in the creation of Belgorod school of syringaria breeders. I believe that every year this direction should occupy key positions in the further development of the project, - said Oleg Nikolaevich.

Botanical garden breeders work not only by selecting existing lilac varieties which are then being purchased in existing collections, but also concentrate on breeding Belgorod varieties.