Lilacs. Belgorod region

The Belgorod region can rightfully be considered the capital of lilacs. For several years, local breeders have been meticulously cultivating various varieties of this beautiful plant.

Today, the syringarium at the Belgorod University Botanical Garden boasts more than 500 varieties. Here, lilacs are not only collected but also propagated using the most modern technologies. The laboratory for micro-clonal propagation of lilacs annually sends more than 5,000 test-tube-grown seedlings to nurseries across Russia for further growth. This means that today Belgorod lilacs grow in every corner of our country. Of course, they also adorn the regional capital and other settlements of the Belgorod region.

On August 9, 2022, a legendary event took place - the Belgorod lilac variety "Great Victory" was sent to space for the first time. The Soyuz carrier rocket launched lilac sprouts from the Belgorod University Botanical Garden to an altitude of 530 km above sea level. This research differed from previous plant launches into Earth's orbit in that the sprouts developed without human intervention. The experiment confirmed the effectiveness of the space greenhouse system created by Belgorod scientists. The event is recorded in the Russian Book of Records.

In 2023, at the "Belgorod in Bloom" festival, a new lilac variety called "Belgorodskaya," created by breeders and gifted to the city by the N.V. Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was presented.

 In Belgorod, there is even a street named after the lilacs: Belgorod Lilac Street. More than 1,000 lilac bushes of different varieties and species are planted along it.