Lilacs are among the most beloved and fragrant flowers, with enchanting blooms and sweet scents that can fill any garden and soul with beauty and meaning. Some may wonder, but what do lilacs symbolize?
In the language of flowers, lilac meaning defines youth’s joy, spring’s freshness, and first times. From the botanical perspective, lilac flowers attract butterflies, making them perfect to design a vibrant landscape.
Lilacs belong to the genusSyringa, including 25 known species, native to eastern Europe and temperate Asia, according toBritannica. The common lilacs have four-petaled purple flower clusters, which can also come in pale blue, light purple, pinkish, or white.
Are you considering lilacs for your garden, but doubting how much you know about growing them? Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced gardener, this ultimate guide will provide all the answers on how to grow and care for lilacs. So grab your gardening tools and create your own lilac paradise!
Table of ContentsWhere Do Lilacs Grow BestClimateSoilOrientationWhen and How to Plant Lilac BushBest Time for Planting and ReplantingPlanting MethodsHow to Care for LilacsWateringTemperature & HumidityFertilizingBloomingPruningPropagatingCommon Lilac ProblemsLow FloweringHeat IntolerancePoor AgingCommon Pests & Plant DiseasesBacterial BlightFungal Leaf SpotsPowdery MildewPopular Lilac Varieties‘Beauty of Moscow’ Lilac‘Sensation’ Lilac‘Miss Kim’ Lilac‘Bloomerang’ Lilac‘Charles Joly’ Lilac‘Scentara Double Blue’ LilacJapanese Tree Lilac ‘Ivory Silk’Top Questions About Lilac BushesAre Lilacs Perennials?Where Do Lilacs Grow Best in the US?How Many Years Does It Take for a Lilac Bush to Grow?
Where Do Lilacs Grow Best
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Climate
Lilacs thrive in climates that have relatively cool summers and cold winters. They are resistant in zone 2 but hardy inzones 3 to 7.
Soil
Lilacs love rich, loamy,neutral(pH of 7.0)to slightly alkaline(pH of 7.4–7.8)soiland sharp drainage. You can use compost to adjust your soil pH.
Orientation
Lilacs grow best planted infull sun, meaning they should get at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. Given less, they won’t flower as well. Lilacs don’t do well in full shade, so it’s best to find them a sunny,south-facingspot.
When and How to Plant Lilac Bush
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Best Time for Planting and Replanting
Lilac shrubs should be planted in theearly fallbefore the ground freezes or in theearly springafter the last frost. The best time to replant lilacs is in theearly spring, after they finish flowering and before thesummerheat sets in.
Planting Methods
Dig a hole deep and wide enough to accommodate the roots of the lilac and set the plant2 to 3 in(5 to 7.6 cm)deeperthan it grew in the nursery. Depending on the variety and desired effect, lilacs should be placed5 to 15 ft apart(1.5 to 4.5 m). After planting, water the lilacs well and mulch them to retain moisture and control weeds.
How to Care for Lilacs
Are lilac bushes hard to grow? Fortunately, lilacs are generally easy to cultivate. Still, they do require specific growing conditions and care. If you want your lilac to thrive and bloom well, follow these simple steps, covering everything from watering to propagating.
Watering
Lilacs need well-draining soil and regular watering, especially during the first growing season and hot summers.
Temperature & Humidity
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As lilacs prefer climates with cold winters and cool, though sunny summers, the best temperature is between65°F and 76°F(18.3°C and 24.4°C). Lilacs also can withstand freezing temperatures. However, they do need protection from frosty cold winds.
Hot and humid regions such as the Southern United States aren’t suitable, as humidity can lead to fungal diseases.
Fertilizing
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Lilacs are spring-feeding shrubs that greatly benefit from regular fertilization, especially in poor soils or during the first growing seasons. Regular fertilization helps them produce larger flowers, healthier foliage, and stronger roots.
The best time to fertilize lilacs is inearly spring, just before they leaf out. For fertilizing lilacs, you can use organic material, bone meal, fish meal, and compost or buy liquid, powdery, or granulated fertilizer. Opt for a balanced fertilizer specifically formulated for lilac shrubs (for example,10-10-10or20-20-20).
Quick tip: Don’t overdo it. Over-fertilization can cause excessive leaf growth and poor blooming. Also, avoid fertilizers high in nitrogen, as this can make the soil too acidic for lilacs.
Blooming
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Many may be wondering, what month do lilacs bloom? Lilacs are spring-flowering shrubs that bloom for a few weeks, usuallyfrom mid to late May, depending on the climate and variety.
However, there are early, mid, and late-season lilacs, which can extend the blooming season to six weeks or more. You can also choose reblooming lilacs, which flower again inmidsummerand fall.
Quick tip: While blooming, water the plant deeply and regularly, especially during dry spells.
Pruning
Lilacs bloom on old wood, which means that the flower buds for the next spring develop on growth from the previous year. As a result, thebest time to prune lilacsis immediatelyafter bloomingbefore they start forming new buds.
If you prune your lilacs in late summer, fall, or winter, you will remove the flower buds formed on the old wood and reduce the blooming for the next season.
Quick tip:Hard pruning can stimulate growth in overgrown, old, or poorly flowering lilacs. However, keep in mind that it will reduce or eliminate flowers for at least one year.
Propagating
Lilacs can be propagated from shoots, cuttings, or seeds. However, propagating from shoots is the easiest and most successful method. Shoots are new stems that grow from the roots of existing lilac bushes. They usually appear in late spring or early summer after the lilacs have bloomed. So, how do we propagate from them?
And there you have it, enjoy your new lilac plant!
Common Lilac Problems
Lilac shrubs are usually trouble-free. However, they may experience a few common problems, such as poor flowering, heat intolerance, and poor aging. Here are things that cause these issues and ways to solve them.
Low Flowering
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Solution: Prune lilacs right after they flower, use a balanced fertilizer, plant them in a sunny spot, and choose varieties adapted to your climate.
Heat Intolerance
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As lilacs prefer cooler climates, they are less tolerate of heat. Excessive summer heat can cause wilting, shriveling, and premature leaf drop. Lilacs under heat stress may not produce flowers and could become more susceptible to pests and diseases.
Solution: Avoid planting lilacs near sources of reflected heat or limited airflow, such as walls, pavements, or solid fencing. Choose varieties adapted to your climate and provide adequate water and mulch.
Poor Aging
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Lilacs can become bare-bottomed or leggy with age and often look bedraggled with leaf infections after a hot summer. If the old wood isn’t pruned, the plant can produce fewer and smaller flowers.
Solution:Right after spring flowering, prune lilacs to remove about one-third of the oldest and thickest stems at the base. This will stimulate new growth and more blooms.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
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According to the University of Maryland, there arethree most common lilac diseases: bacterial blight, fungal leave spots, and powdery mildew.
Bacterial Blight
Fungal Leaf Spots
Solution: No treatment may be applied as fungal spots aren’t life-threatening to lilacs. However, the best way to prevent and control fungal leaf spots is to prune off the infected leaves and twigs and dispose of them properly.
Powdery Mildew
Solution: Select resistant cultivars and plant them in full sun. Also, avoid crowding the plants and prune them regularly to improve air circulation and remove infected parts.
Popular Lilac Varieties
Syringa vulgaris, or the common lilac, is the most widely grown and cultivated species and the parent of many popular varieties. However, there are more lilac varieties within the Syringa genus. Let’s meet seven of the most common ones.
‘Beauty of Moscow’ Lilac
Buy Beauty of Moscow
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Syringa vulgaris ‘Beauty of Moscow’ is a French hybrid lilac that has double pink buds that turn into white flowers. It lovesfull sunand blooms inlate spring, spreading a strong fragrance. It can grow up to12 ft tall(3.6 m) and7 ft wide(2.1 m).
‘Sensation’ Lilac
Buy Sensation
Syringa vulgaris‘Sensation’ is another French hybrid lilac, yet this one has unique bicolor flowers. The petals are purple with a white edge, creating a striking contrast. It also has a strong fragrance, prefers full sun, and blooms inmid-to-late spring. Sensation cultivars can grow to10 ft tall(3 m) and12 ft wide(3.6 m).
‘Miss Kim’ Lilac
Buy Miss Kim
This Korean lilac has lavender flowers that fade to pale purple. Itblooms later than most lilacs, extending the flowering season from late spring to early summer, and has a spicy fragrance. The shrub prefers full or partial sun and typically reaches a height and width of6 to 8 ft(1.8 to 2.4 m).
‘Bloomerang’ Lilac
Buy Bloomerang
‘Charles Joly’ Lilac
Buy Charles Joly
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The French hybrid features double lilac flowers and prefers to grow infull sun. Its magenta pink flowers spread a stunning smell of sweet fragrance while blooming in themid to late spring. Charles Joy can reach up to12 ft tall(3.6 m) and10 ft wide(3 m).
‘Scentara Double Blue’ Lilac
Buy Scentara Double Blue
This early flowering hybrid lilac boasts double deep purple blossoms and thrives in full sun, emitting an intense fragrance. As a dwarf variety, it can reach a height and width ofup to 8 ft(2.4 m).
Japanese Tree Lilac ‘Ivory Silk’
Buy Ivory Silk
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From a technical standpoint, there isn’t a true “lilac tree.” This term is often used to describe a tall lilac bush that’s shaped to resemble a tree. However, if you’re seeking a lilac variety trained to grow in a tree-like form, you might consider the Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata‘Ivory Silk’).
Japanese tree lilac has creamy-white flowers, light fragrance, attractive peeling bark, and glossy foliage. It prefers full sun, blooms inearly summer, and grows up to25 ft tall(7.6 m) and15 ft wide(4.5 m).
Top Questions About Lilac Bushes
As we close the guide to lilac bushes, remember gardening is a journey of learning and growth—much like the lilacs themselves. To make you feel equipped and inspired to grow these beautiful blooms, let’s address the top questions.
Are Lilacs Perennials?
Yes, lilacs areperennial shrubs, meaning they can live forover two yearsand bloom yearly. Actually, lilacs can grow and bloom for over 100 (!) years if planted in the right conditions and cared for properly.
Where Do Lilacs Grow Best in the US?
Lilacs are adapted to thenorthern and central regions of the US. They can also grow in warmer areas but may need special care and specific cultivars to thrive. Cultivars such as ‘Descanso,’ ‘Lavender Lady,’ ‘Miss Kim,’ and ‘Blue Skies,’ are known for their ability to thrive in warmer climates.
How Many Years Does It Take for a Lilac Bush to Grow?
A young lilac bush takes about two to three years to produce its first blooms. Generally, lilacs are fast-growing and can reach12 to 18 inchesin growth annually. However, it may take5 to 10 yearsfor a lilac to fully mature and reach its maximum height.You May Like60 Magical Christmas Tree Decorations and Ideas for Jolly CelebrationsRutuja DumbreBegonia Growth and Care: A Complete Guide For Full BloomsRutuja DumbreButcher Block Countertops For Timeless Durability And A Classic CharmRutuja Dumbre
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