Grow Fragrant Lilacs

(Photo by VickiSims)

The Common White Lilac is another old favorite that provides a color variation that many people enjoy. Some people think that the common white lilac is more fragrant that the common purple lilac. It can also be used in a border, as a hedge or as an individual accent plant.

The common white lilac also produces suckers - new shoots that sprout from the base of the shrub, or from the roots. Like the common purple lilac, it is also very hardy In North American gardens, can withstand severely cold winters and does not grow well in areas without significant frost in wintertime.

See Common White Lilacs available from Nature Hills Nursery

Click on the map to go to the US Department of Agriculture website for an interactive map with more information.

Image credit: U. S. Department of Agriculture Public Domain

1. Choose the location where a lilac is to be planted with care.

2. Unless it is a dwarf variety, lilacs require about a 100 sq. ft. area per plant to grow to their potential. Crowding lilacs will only make them grow tall and flower at the top of the plant.

3. Plant in a sunny location - Lilacs require a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to properly set flower buds and bloom.

4. Good drainage is essential for lilacs. They love water but do not like to have their "feet wet" with their roots in water. If the soil is heavy or poorly drained create a mound about 3-4 wide and 12-15 inches above ground level. Mix the soil in the mound with sand or a mixture of gravel and top soil.

5. When planting a lilac, add rich organic soil around the root system. Avoid peat moss because it holds moisture and is too acidic.

6. The best fertilizer for lilacs is one that is proportionately higher in Phosphorus than it is in Nitrogen or Potassium. Fertilizers that are higher in phosphorus encourage the production of flowers. Fertilizers are all labeled with numbers indicating the elements in this order: first nitrogen, second phosporus and third potassium. To find the right fertilizers for lilacs, look for those that have the second number at least twice as high as the first. (An example would be 5-10-5) Fertilzer should be applied at the base of the plant in early spring to help the plant during the growing season.

7. Mulching lilacs is also important. Using mulch helps reduce the heat stress and helps prevent the loss of soil moisture in the summer

8. Lilacs need regular watering, especially in the summer. If a lilac plant's leaves start to droop, be sure to water it promptly.

9. Pruning is not mandatory every year and any pruning should be done immediately after blooming. Since lilacs usually bloom on "old wood" that is over 1-2 years old, severe pruning every year will result in no flowers. Prune no more than 1/3 of the plant to have flowers every year. If a plant becomes overgrown, cutting 1/3 of the main stems that are at least 1.5 inches in diameter down to 12-15 inches tall from the soil will allow new shoots to grow again. Doing this over a three year period will allow the lilac to continue to flower while getting it back to a manageable size and shape.

10. Cut off faded blooms within a week of when they have wilted will help the plant concentrate on preparing more flower buds for the next year instead of seeds.

(Photo by VickiSims)