Huge blooms, wonderful scent.
Credit: Wally Patrick
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EmailBotanical name: Syringa
Plant type: Shrub
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3
Sun exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun
Soil type: Any
Soil pH: Neutral to Slightly Alkaline
Flower color: Red, Pink, Yellow, Blue, Purple, White
Who doesn't love lilacs? The ideal lilac shrub has about 10 canes and produces flowers at eye-level—all the better to enjoy that sweet, haunting fragrance.
Lilacs do come in seven colors but most are familiar with the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, which blooms in the northern states for 2 weeks in late May. However, there are early-, mid-, and late-season lilacs, which, when grown together, ensure a steady bloom for at least 6 weeks.
Lilacs are hardy, easy to grow, and low maintenance. They can grow from 5 to 15 feet tall, depending on the variety. The fragrant flowers are good for cutting and attractive to butterflies.
Lilac Pictures
Click slideshow below to enjoy 7 lovely lilac pictures taken by our Almanac readers!
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Planting
- Grow lilacs in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil (at a pH near 7.0). If your soil is in poor condition, add compost to enrich.
- Select a site where your lilac will get full sun—at least 6 hours. If lilacs don't get enough sun, they will not bloom well.
- Make sure the site drains well. Lilacs don't like wet feet and will not bloom with too much water.
- Plant in either spring or fall, although the latter is preferred.
- If you're lucky, a friend will give you a sucker, or offshoot, of the root system of one of his plants. Your sucker will look pathetic at first but just dig a hole, backfill it with soil, and stick the sucker in. Then water and wait. In 4 or 5 years, you'll be rewarded with huge, fragrant blossoms.
- Transplanting lilacs from a nursery is also easy. If it's container-grown, spread out the roots as you settle the plant into the ground; if it's balled or burlapped, gentle remove it and any rope before filling in the hole. Water and wait.
- Space multiple lilac shrubs 5 to 15 feet apart, depending on the variety.
Care
- Each spring, apply a layer of compost under the plant, followed by mulch to retain moisture and control weeds.
- Water during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week.
- Lilacs won't bloom if they're overfertilized. They can handle a handful of 10-10-10 in late winter, but no more.
- After your lilac bush has finished blooming, spread some lime and well-rotted manure around the base. Trim the bush to shape it, and remove suckers at the same time.
Pruning Lilacs
- Lilacs bloom on old wood, so it's critical to prune in the spring right after they bloom. If you prune later in the summer, you may be removing the wood. Here's a tip: If your lilac flower clusters are getting smaller, time to prune!
- Every year after bloom, remove any dead wood. Prune out the oldest canes (down to the ground). Remove the small suckers. Cut back weak branches to a strong shoot. Cut back tall canes to eye height.
- If your lilac is old and in really bad shape, remove one-third of the oldest canes (down to the ground) in year one, half of the remaining old wood in year two, and the rest of the old wood in year three. Then, following a normal pruning program (as mentioned in above point).
- Another option for an old lilac is to chop the whole thing back to about 6 or 8 inches high. It sounds drastic, but lilacs are very hardy. The downside to this option is that it takes a few years to grow back. The upside is less work and more reward, as the lilac will grow back bursting with blooms.
Pests
- Prone to attack by slugs and snails.
- Powder white mildew may appear after a summer of hot, humid weather. It may be unsightly, but it does no harm. Ignore it.
Recommended Varieties
The most common and fragrant lilacs are of the S. vulgaris variety:
- For early bloom, try 'Charles Joly', a double magneta.
- Mid-season lilacs include 'Monge', a dark reddish purple, and 'Firmament', a fine blue.
- Late-season beauties include 'Miss Canada', a reddishpink, and 'Donald Wyman', a single purple.
Although common lilacs love cold weather, a few thrive as south as Zone 9, among them the cutleaf lilac, a fragrant pale lavender. Syringa patula 'Miss Kim' is a graceful shrub with pale lilac-blue flowers that fade to white.
Special Features
- Attracts Butterflies
Wit & Wisdom
- To improve the flowering of lilacs, keep the grass from growing around them. A 16- to 24-inch circle of landscape cloth placed around the bushes and covered with bark or stone will keep the grass down.
- Force a winter bouquet from cut branches of lilac. Bruise the cut ends and set them in water. Spray the branches frequently. Keep them in a cool place until they bloom, then move to a warmer area for display.
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Poet Walt Whitman thought of lilacs when Abraham Lincoln died:
"When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom'd . . . I mourn'd, and yet hall mourn with ever-returning spring."
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Comments
miss kim lilac bush
I bought a miss kim lilac bush from a local garden centre here in Calgary 5 days ago, I transplanted it to the ground and have been watering it quite a bit. It is developing yellow tips on the leaves and spreading to the rest of the leaf, it actually looks like it is dying. We are having a heat wave here with no rain, what do you suggest??
Although yellowing leaves can
Although yellowing leaves can be a sign of one of several problems, our best guess would be overwatering. Too much water can rot lilac roots, which in turn causes yellowing leaves. In general, lilacs don’t do well in wet areas.
When planting a lilac, make sure that the area has good drainage, air circulation, and sunlight. Water the lilac immediately after planting, and then 2 to 3 times per week for the first month. After that, provide about 1 inch [about 2.5 cm] of water per week (just one deep soak once per week is good, to reach the lilac’s deep roots). Water a little more during hot weather.
A very old lilac
We have a very old lilac and it's main stem is on it's side and others are coming out of it. It has one other main stem about 8 inches away. Almost like two plants. They reach up to just under the second story window in the dining room. It looks like it was chopped down at one time to about 4 feet, then all the rest of the growth on top of that. How would you prune it since it is already July 4th? Is it too late to prune this year to still have flowers for next year? It is my mother-in-laws and she is 92. She would probable get upset if it was too drastic. but whatever if it needs it.
Old Lilac Care
For your old lilac tree we suggest a three-year plan. This allows the lilac to bloom every year. In late winter of year one remove one-third of the old canes (down to the ground), remove half of the remaining old wood in year two, and the rest of the old wood in year three. Then, follow a normal pruning schedule. Every spring after bloom, remove any dead wood. Prune out the oldest canes (down to the ground). Remove the small suckers. Cut back weak branches to a strong shoot. Cut back tall canes to eye height.
Boomerang Lilac
I want to plant a lilac bush in the fall. I saw this Boomerang Lilac, blooms spring, summer, and fall. Do you give it the same care as regular Lilacs? Will it bloom soon or do I have to wait 5 years?
The "bloomerang lilac" can be
The "bloomerang lilac" can be planted like any other container-grown shrub. Lightly fertilize with organic seaweed extract, fish emulsion, or slow-release fertilizer in early spring and again after the first (mid-May) bloom. And lightly prune after each bloom. Both of these techniques will encourage more blooms. It's a dwarf shrub variety -- about 4 to 5 feet diameter -- which is helpful to reach the flowers at the top for pruning! All the best.
want to buy a lilac shrub
I live in Calgary, and want to buy a lilac shrub to replace a spruce tree we had removed. CAN I do it now (June) or should I wait until the fall? I haven't purchased one yet, so I just want to make sure the timing is right.
The best time to plant lilacs
The best time to plant lilacs is in either the spring or fall.
Thank you for your interest in the Old Farmer's Almanac and our Web site.
Why won't my lilac tree bloom ???
Hi
I bought a lilac tree about 6 t0 7 years ago now - a small tree - the tree was not in bloom or anything they told me it would be about 5 years or so. Well the tree has grown but still no lilacs on it. What can I do about this ?? Sometimes I wonder even if it is a lilac tree cause it won't bloom but I know it is but getting very impatient that it isn't blooming. It gets lots of sunshine and I keep the grass and weeds away from it ??
Lilac tree
I had a lilac tree that wouldn't bloom I read somewhere to use wood ash in the soil,which I did I had the most spectular blooms ever.
Why won't my lilac tree bloom ???
Hi
I bought a lilac tree about 6 t0 7 years ago now - a small tree - the tree was not in bloom or anything they told me it would be about 5 years or so. Well the tree has grown but still no lilacs on it. What can I do about this ?? Sometimes I wonder even if it is a lilac tree cause it won't bloom but I know it is but getting very impatient that it isn't blooming. It gets lots of sunshine and I keep the grass and weeds away from it ??
Lilac root systems
I want to plant lilacs between my house and my neighbor's house. She's concerned that the roots will invade the plumbing pipes that connect from her bathroom to the city lines. I didn't think that lilac root systems were deep or invasive. Do I need to be careful how close to plumbing pipes I plant the lilacs? thank you!
You are correct: Lilac roots
You are correct: Lilac roots aren't that invasive though they can ramble and lilacs need room to grow in all directions. You shouldn't have to worry about foundations or pipes. We advise folks to plant the lilacs about 12 feet or more from a house foundation if they wish to avoid worry. The roots are about one to one-half times the length of the branches. A 10-foot shrub would have roots about 15 feet in every direction.
Can I keep a lilac in a container?
Hi, I pulled out a few lilac suckers from my friend's yard and put them in a 3 gallon black plastic pot. They did fine. They have no leaves for about 2.5 feet and then the leaves on the top are about a foot high. They were two connected suckers. Only about a quarter of an inch around. There are already new suckers growing from the soil. The plant(s) seem very happy. I do not have a garden. I only have a concrete patio. Can this plant last in a pot for its life? I plan on transplanting it in the fall to a 5 gallon and then that would be about it.
Thank you!!!!
A lilac is fine in a
A lilac is fine in a container for the short-term, given plenty of water and sun. However, after a year or two, they'll get too large and they'd do better in the ground. In a pot, the lilac will also need fertilizer in early spring and after bloom--and also add a handful of lime once a season.
Very Inexperienced Gardner
What is a sucker? I have lilacs in my yard and some are very tall and others short. They tend to only have blooms on the top and not towards the bottom. I looked at the blooms, which are no longer purple and appear dead. I thought this was what was to be pruned but there are new green buds in them. Should I be removing these? HELP!!!!
Suckers are plant sprouts
Suckers are plant sprouts from the root system. New lilac suckers grow into new lilacs! For some folks, this is desirable. For many homeowners, who don't want more growth, it is not. Your lilacs also need pruning. If you just have blooms on the top, then your lilac is overgrown. You must prune RIGHT after they finish flowering this year, and before mid-July. If overgrown, also cut down about a third of the older canes as close to the ground as possible next bring before they leaf out. You may not get blossoms that year but you'll send out new growth and the shrub will start to look better next year. Always thin out your thickest canes as low as you can cut them.
Black leaves on my lilac
Hi,
I have recently planted 6 Charles joly lilac shrubs, May long weekend in northern Alberta. They are planted along the back of my fence which recieves full sun all day long. While watering them this evening, I noticed that on 3 of the 6 shrubs they have a few blackening leaves on them. Is this normal or should I be concerned about insects/desease affecting them? As I purchased and planted them at the end of May, I am unsure if they bloomed this year. They seem to me...a VERY inexperienced gardener...to be young they stand 3-4' tall. Other than the blackening leaves they appear to be healthy, as someone mentioned above they do have some leaves with holes but I think thats just par for the course...no
Black leaves may mean: 1)
Black leaves may mean:
1) Frost injury on newly emerging tissue. If the black parts on more prominent on the margins of leaves, it's probably just the cold temperatures.
2) Lilac blight. This looks a bit different--starting as brown water-marked spots and progresses to blackened leaves. A cool, wet, rainy, spring season can lead to lilac blight, especially if rainy after a late frost. In this case, you want to prune and burn all infected areas.
You may wish to bring a sample to your local cooperative extension or garden center.
Drawf Lilac has seeds, when do I plant them
First time growing a drawf lilac tree/bush and this year it has what looks like seeds, when do I pick the seeds and how and when do I plant them. This drawf is 3 years old and has about ten 18" suckers growing I want to transplant them but need advice too. Hope someone has the answers, thanking you in advance.
Lilacs are relatively low
Lilacs are relatively low maintenance, just be sure to trim the blooms after they’ve expired in the spring. Lilacs grow on old wood. The seeds should just be cut off, planting them will most likely get you nowhere. Also cut away the suckers. Lilacs are clump forming and produce new shoots from the base of the trunk. Use these shoots for propagating lilac bushes. Dig down from the main clump, exposing the roots and carefully cut the shoot away from the “mother” plant. Make sure you include roots. Then plant the shoot in a suitable location and water regularly until it takes hold.
Good luck!
Frustrated
I live in northern Alabama and planted a lilac bush about 4 years ago. It bloomed the first year, but although it is growing in size, it has not bloomed the past 3 years. I have tried everything, including soil acidifier. I was really hoping it would bloom this year, as I had been doing research on how to prune. But it never did, and now I'm not sure which canes to cut back, as I have read that you should only prune the canes that have produced blooms in spring. The only other thing I can think of is that I have not removed the grass and mulched around the bush. Could that really be the reason for its not blooming?
lilac
I live in DE and I have the exact same happen to me.First year it bloomed and hasn't bloomed in 3-4 years now. I have kept the grass away from mine by mulching and has not worked so I don't think that is your problem. HELP
You'll want to check for the
You'll want to check for the same concerns: sunlight, pH levels of the soil, improper planting, and pruning that may have removed the buds for upcoming years.
See comments below for more advice.
Thank you for your interest in the Old Farmer's Almanac and our Web site.
There a few things that could
There a few things that could be going wrong:
Check your soil’s acidity. Lilacs prefer soil pH from 6 to 7. You can find soil testing kits at most garden centers.
Perhaps your lilac is not getting enough sun. Lilacs need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
Lilac bushes tend to not bloom for the first few years, though it sounds like you were lucky to have blooms in year 1. They spend the first 3 years getting established and start to bloom regularly by age 6.
Hang on! It is worth it!
Bees are eating my lilac leaves
I live in Tucson and have two lilac in large pots. Each year about May they get many holes in their leaves about the size of a quarter. We have seen bees cutting away the leaves. Is this damaging to the plants and is there anything to prevent it?
leafcutters?
Are the holes round and perfectly shaped? If so, they are not honeybees or your traditional bees. As you live out West, you may have "leafcutter" bees. The damage is only aesthetic and minor as they're just cutting bits of the leaves for their nesting. They are not aggressive with humans. Importantly, they are valuable pollinators for your garden so we'd leave them be. Pesticides don't work and their nests are hard to find so you don't have much choice.
Lilac Bush Pests
Every spring, as soon as my lilacs bloom, they are invaded with bees, butterflies, sphinx moths and hummingbirds which destroy the flowers. What can I do to repel these pests?
Polinators love lilacs
Oh my dear, these are the pollinators that make the blooms and beauty of the garden possible. They are not destroying the lilac. The lilac is actually using its floral scent to attract these beneficial insects.
Pests?
Did you just call hummingbirds, bees and butterflies pests? Seriously? Last I checked, plants are marketed specifically to attract these desirable and necessary fauna. It's called "ecosystem"...Check out concrete paving. That attracts nothing. Not even people. (Just cars)
Old lilac
At my grandparents homestead where I live and grew up, there is a patch of lilac, no more than 4' tall that has never bloomed in my entire life time. We are talking 40+ years. What's wrong? Are they too old? Should they be cut back? It's an issue I've pondered for some time. Its a lovely shrub, but would love to see it bloom.
oh oh...
My lilacs are currently in bloom. Yesterday I pruned out a ton of dead wood, but nothing green. Was this a bad thing?
Reblooming Lilacs
Do I cut back the blooms on these after they bloom the first time in the spring so they will bloom again?
Yes, you prune right after
Yes, you prune right after bloom in the spring but do it before new flower buds set. So prune after May and before July. The lilacs bloom once each season and they'll bloom again next spring.
Thank You for inspiring me.
I have a lilac bush that my aunt gave me a long time ago. The bush is probably 10X10ft. It's at my childhood home where my brother lives. You have inspired me to go dig up some of the suckers to plant in my yard . I will wait until Fall to do so as I think it may be too late now. I'll be going for the 4 ft or taller suckers on the outskirts of the main plant. Again, thanks for sharing your knowledge and letting us all know how easy it is to grow these beautiful plants. They have been my favorite since I found them as a small child in my aunt's yard.
Lilacs not in South
Being from Illinois, the one thing I miss in spring is the Lilacs. South Alabama is no place to grow them, all Northerners enjoy!
Lilacs
I live in South Carolina and have a lilac bush in my yard. It blooms in April every year. I don't understand why you say South Alabama is no place to grow lilacs. I have even separated my bush and replanted it with great success. Have you tried growing lilacs in Alabama? If not, you might want to give it a try.
will my plant die?
the next door's workmen have hacked at my lilac plant and its in a right mess, if i up root it to re plant it, will it grow ok?
Hacked Lilac
If the roots are still in the ground, leave it. Lilacs are very tough plants and should survive. You may see some growth but not blooms this year. Cut out any hacked stems. Unfortunately, this would be a bad time to replant. The best time is early spring and the next best time is the fall after the leaves have dropped. Wait til then if you can.
early spring sun only?
I want to plant a lilac bush in a spot where it will have full sun in winter and early spring, but only partial after mid-May. This means it will have good sun through it's blooming season (I am in the north east), but then less through summer and fall. What do you all think? Enough sun? Thanks!
As long as they get 6 hours
As long as they get 6 hours of sun through the end of their blooming season, they should be OK. They really need the sun to bloom profusely.
Color variations
We've taken shoots from the same original purple lilac bush over the years and planted them in different places through out the property, all in full sun. But the blooms of each new bush seem to be a shade or 2 different than the parent, some darker, some lighter, some redder. What causes this?
Would lilacs do well in an
Would lilacs do well in an area like Houston Texas. Not too much chill here, even in the winter.
lilacs for texas
Some of our readers have had success with the 'Miss Kim' lilac and the Persian Lilac (Syringa persica) as they are low-chill hybrids. However, it's not a sure bet because lilacs just love that long winter chill and simply aren't native to this area. Here are some possible substitutions: Crepe Myrtle, Texas Mountain Laurel, and the Lilac Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus).
Mixing Colors
I have Pink and Purple lilacs. if planted to close to each other will I end up with just one color. or will each plant retain it's own color
Each will keep its own color.
Each will keep its own color. We have pink, white and purple bushes all in a row. Enjoy.
lilac colors
Lilacs don't change color based on the soil or surroundings (unlike hydrangeas and some other flowers).
curling
I transplanted three dwarf lilacs last fall. They all bloomed this spring and seemed to be thriving then the leaves began to curl and one bush died, and the other two are marginal. I sprayed Seven but had no effect. Can you help?
curling lilac leaves
Curling leaves often means not enough water or improper watering. Take a trowel and dig down into the soil below the lilac to if water is getting down deep into the roots. If not, put the hose on and let it trickle for a good 20 minutes as they are thirsty.
Bees
Do lilacs attract bees or wasps? I am hoping to plant my lilacs around our deck to close in the bottom, but i don't really want to be fighting the bees and wasps all summer and not be able to enjoy my deck.
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