Few flowering shrubs offer as much spring beauty and fragrance as trusses of lavender, blue, pink, white or purple lilacs. French hybrids like the purplish-red and white-edged ‘Sensation’ or the lilac-colored ‘President Lincoln’ need winter chill, but Descanso hybrids such as ‘Lavender Lady’ or ‘White Angel’ were developed for mild winter regions. Lilacs range from dwarf cultivars to 8-30 ft. tall. Use lilacs as floriferous hedges or as stand alone focal shrubs.
Late spring
Full sun
Once established, water every 7 to 10 days and decrease or withhold near summer’s end to encourage dormancy
Prune for shape, to control size and to remove dead or diseased branches after flowering season is over
Zones 3-10
Plant in winter or early spring from bare root or spring to fall from containers
Needs well-draining, alkaline soil
10-20 ft. x 6-15 ft.
