Common Lilac
Common Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Lilac is a popular shrub commonly used for hedges and screens. Lilac has attractive dark green or blue-green leaves. This lilac blooms in early spring with vibrant and fragrant purple flowers. Lilacs provide excellent shelter for various wildlife and attract pollinators. This shrub is extremely hardy and thrives with little care, making it perfect for a pop of spring color and lovely fragrance in shrub borders and hedges. Lilac thrives in colder climates.
Growing tips
- Plant in open site protected from strong winds and early frosts but with good air circulation to prevent leaf mildew.
- Prune bare root plant before or soon after planting to reduce transplant shock.
- Prune in November/December. Cut out spent flowers when petals fade, as practicable. Prune out a quarter of older shoots to keep bush youthful and blooms fragrant. Remove basal suckers to prevent spread.
| Mature height (ft) | 8-15 |
| Mature spread (ft) | 6-12 |
| Sun preference | Full sun, partial shade |
| Native/Non-Native* | Non-Native* |
| Soil type preference | Silty loam |
| Soil moisture preference | Moist, well-drained |
| Bloom | May |
| Pollination | Self-pollinating |
| Zone | 3-7 |
| pH | Alkaline to neutral |
| Wildlife Benefit | Supports pollinators such as hummingbirds, butterflies, long-tongued bees, and moths; provides wildlife shelter. |
| Uses | Shrub border, hedge, ornamental, cut flowers, wildlife habitat, pollinator garden |
| Resistance/tolerant | Deer-resistant, rabbit-resistant, salt-tolerant |
*Non-native is not inherently negative; non-native species refers to any species living outside of its natural range and can have neutral, positive, or negative impacts. Invasive species are a non-native species that spread aggressively and cause harm to the environment, economy and/or human health. Many non-native species have naturalized and fill a beneficial niche in the ecosystem.
Resources
Syringa vulgaris, Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, NC State Extension
Common lilac, The Morton Arboretum