How To Grow a Lilac Bush for Beautiful Blooms in the Spring
Sweet-smelling lilacs are one of the prettiest plants you can grow in your garden. In this guide, I’ll walk you through you the basic care needs of lilac bushes so you can enjoy them in your own home!
Thankfully, lilac bushes are very easy to care for.
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They’re known for their lovely fragrance and generous clusters of tiny flower petals, and they can add visual appeal to even the plainest of yards.
You can grow them as hedges for added privacy, as single shrubs mixed into your current garden design, or in pretty containers.
Plant this shrub in your yard, and you’ll reap its beauty every spring year after year, just as long as you provide it with the right environment.
Lilac bushes are actually known to live up to 100 years in the same spot!
With a few tips, growing your own lilacs is absolutely within your reach; you don’t need to be an expert gardener to grow them.
All they ask of you is full sun, fertile soil, water, and a little TLC in the way of pruning every year.
If you’re ready to grow this low-maintenance perennial in your own yard, keep reading to learn about the most important essentials of lilac bush care!
Lilac Bush Varieties
First things first, make sure to choose a lilac variety that grows well in your zone.
Since lilacs require several months of very cold winter temperatures each year to produce blooms, not every variety can be grown successfully in warmer zones such as Zones 8 and 9; it’s why this shrub does so well in colder regions!
The most popular hybrid is the Common Lilac, also known as the Syringa Vulgaris.
It’s available in countless varieties that all look slightly different from each other, whether it’s smaller flower petals, fuller clusters, or different shades of purple and pink.
Luckily for those of us who live down south, “low chill” varieties of the Common Lilac have been developed to thrive in warmer zones!
Lavender Lady, for example, is a low-chill variety that can be grown in plant hardiness zones that don’t have an especially cold Winter.
Keep in mind that there are many different lilac varieties to choose from, so purchasing the right variety for your zone will make all the difference.
So how can you find out whether the lilac variety you want grows well in your zone?
You can simply ask your local nursery for recommendations, or do a good-old Google search.
You can also head to this reputable online garden nursery that sells quite a few different lilac varieties; they’re all gorgeous!
I’ve purchased the Bloomerang Lilac bush from them in the past and it bloomed beautifully for me in my hardiness zone of 9B. Next time, I’ll order their California Lilac, which is actually better suited for Southern California.
I know it’s often difficult to find the variety you want from your local garden nursery, so this is a time when ordering a plant online can be really convenient.
Tip for enjoying lilac blooms for a longer period of time
Lilacs bloom in the springtime, usually in the month of May, for around two weeks. (Low-chill varieties can have an even earlier bloom time).
If you want to see lilacs blooming in your garden for more than two weeks, try planting different varieties that have different bloom times (early spring, late spring, and early summer). This way, you can enjoy lilacs for up to 6 weeks!
Planting Lilacs
Learning how to plant lilac bushes is the second most important step in growing them successfully.
The appropriate time to plant your lilac container or bare root is in early spring or in the fall before your zone’s first frost date.
When choosing an area to plant your shrub, keep in mind that some lilac varieties grow several feet wide, so give your plant’s root system enough room to spread.
Try to plant your lilac in a space that is about six feet wide and a few feet away from a wall or fence.
A lilac bush famously needs at least six hours of full sun each day to produce blooms, which is why choosing your planting spot wisely is so important; planting lilacs in the part or full shade can be disastrous.
You’ll also need a spot that is well-drained and does not collect a pool of water during rainfall.
Thankfully, this shrub transfers well, which means you can purchase a lilac container from your local nursery to plant in your yard, and it’ll adapt to its new home.
If you purchase your lilac bush in a container that has already been growing for a few years, you can expect your lilacs to bloom in the Spring after you transplant it.
(Double-check with your garden nursery about whether you can expect it to bloom this year).
If you’re growing lilacs from bare roots, however, your lilac bush will need a few years to mature before it starts producing flower clusters and takes the shape of a large shrub.
If you don’t feel like waiting that long (who can blame you!?!, then opt for lilac containers like the ones shown above).
Once you choose a planting spot that gets full sun in the morning and afternoon, dig a hole that is deep enough to accommodate the pot of lilac, plus 2-3 inches deeper, and several inches wider.
Next, remove the plant from the pot and place it in the hole you’ve dug.
Work some soil into the hole so that all of the roots are covered and the hole is entirely filled in.
Then, water the area to moisten the soil.
Tip: Do not ever over-water the area because lilac bushes hate sitting in soggy soil. If you’re planting more than 1 lilac bush, plant each potted lilac or bare root at least 6 feet apart from each other so that they all have room to spread their roots and grow their stems and foliage without becoming intermingled.
Ideal Soil pH For Lilacs
Lilacs have a reputation for adjusting to different soils. They do, however, do best in alkaline aka “sweet” soil over soil that’s overly acidic.
The ideal soil pH for planting lilac bushes is anywhere between 6.5 to 7.
If you don’t know your soil’s pH, test your soil with a soil pH meter , which you can find on Amazon or at your local garden center.
If your soil tests too acidic, simply add enough garden lime to the soil to improve the alkaline levels.
Remember, after your lilac bush has been planted, water it regularly to keep the root system moist but never to the point of flooding – well-drained soil is key, or the roots may rot.
How to Fertilize a Lilac Bush
As Spring approaches, you can provide your lilac bush with extra nutrients by using organic fertilizer that is high in phosphorous and low in nitrogen.
However, some gardeners choose to skip this step altogether and are still able to grow lilacs successfully in their zone without fertilizing.
Using the right fertilizer can indeed help strengthen this year’s wood, which ultimately determines the quality of next Spring’s blooms.
Be careful not to use a fertilizer that contains too much nitrogen, because nitrogen is notorious for obstructing bloom production!
If you’re concerned about weeds overtaking the area, place mulch, burlap, or stone over the topsoil to prevent further growth of weeds, grass, or other seeds that have been blown into the area.
Pruning A Lilac Bush
We can’t talk about lilac bush care without talking about pruning. If left untamed, some lilac bushes can grow past 20 feet tall and several feet wide, making them unmanageable for even the most seasoned gardener.
This is why pruning lilac bushes every year after the fourth year of planting is an important step in your lilac care routine.
Why is it necessary to prune every year?
The simple answer is that pruning lilacs properly will help your shrub produce large clusters of blooms each Spring for years and even decades to come.
If you skip pruning, you risk less-desirable blooms in the future. (Yikes!)
But how exactly can you tell when it’s time to prune your lilacs?
Firstly, only lilac bushes that reach about 6 feet tall should be pruned.
Shrubs shorter (and younger than a few years old) rarely need pruning.
When your blooms are spent, you’ll know it’s time to prune. For most zones, this usually occurs in late May to mid-June.
You know when they’re spent because the flower petals will begin to brown.
Every year after bloom, grab your pruning shears and remove the spent blooms and their individual stems aka “dead wood” so that you’re only left with strong, healthy wood.
Be careful not to over-prune, however, because you don’t want to get rid of new wood and shoots, because this is where new buds are produced for next Spring’s blooms.
If you’re taming a lilac bush that has grown too large, you’ll likely need a garden lopper, for cutting thicker shoots of old wood.
For a deeper understanding of how to prune lilacs, head to my Pruning Lilacs post.
You now know the most important aspects of how to grow lilac bushes in your own garden!
Always remember these three things: full sun, moist soil, and pruning at the end of each spring will keep this shrub healthy and happy.
WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE THIS TUTORIAL ON HOW TO GROW LILAC BUSHES TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!
If you’re interested in learning more about lilac bush care, check out the posts below!
Why Your Lilac Bushes Aren’t Blooming and What You Can Do About It
Pruning Lilacs – the Right Way!
If you’re looking for more flowers for your yard that are also low-maintenance, check out this list, you’re bound to fall in love with a few varieties that pair beautifully with your lilacs!
If you have more space in your yard that gets at least 6 hours of sun each day, then this list of full sun perennials will give you plenty to work with.
Before you know it, your garden will be the envy of your entire neighborhood!
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Great tips, I have 2 younger ones that are producing beautiful blooms and I also have 2
old lilac bushes that need help! Do I also fertilize them in spring and lime in the fall? I have tried pruning them a little but has not helped in bloom production. Any ideas? All are a dark purple
variety.
Great advice, my parents let their lilac bush grow and never pruned. I hope to use your blog to give it back beauty!
That’s great, Chryrstal! Good luck!
Hi my name is Alan I live inDenton Texas is there a lilac tree that can grow here in Texas
Hi Alan,
Yes there is! There are a few species that are more heat-tolerant and have adapted well to mild Winters. You can try the Syringa Laciniata, and Descanso Hybrids such as the Lavender Lady, Blue Skies, and Forrest K. Smith. Before planting, make sure to test your soil by using a pH soil test kit, which will tell you how acidic your soil is. Lilacs need slightly alkaline soil, so a test can really help you adjust the acidity (use garden lime to make the soil more alkaline).
What time of season can I move lilac brush it is in a bad spot.
Hi Ruth,
The best time to transplant a lilac bush is in the Spring before hot Summer temperatures settle in, so now is the perfect time. The younger the bush, the easier to transplant. Try to dig as deep down (and wide) into the tree as possible so that you can get as much of the roots as you can. Make sure to add garden soil and compost into the new spot before you plant. After you transplant, water deeply. The roots will begin to settle into the new spot in a few weeks.
Good luck!
How much are these trees. And where can I buy
Hi!
You can find lilac shrubs and potted plants at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Amazon. You might want to visit your local nursery, too. I’ve seen them go between $15 and $80.
My Lilac this year only produced two bloom on the whole thing why is that? Is there something I can do now to the soil or the bush that will make it better for next year ?
Great info. I will save this for the fall when it is time to plant more. I have one establoshed bush. My lilacs are getting lighter and lighter each year. How do I make them more purple? This year they were almost completely white.
Hi Gina!
Your current lilac bush may have been grown on white lilac rootstock, instead of purple or lilac, which is why it’s growing mostly white flowers now. When you pick out another plant for the Fall, make sure it specifies the color before you purchase. The contrast between your white lilacs and your purple lilacs will look beautiful in your yard, thought, so that’s definitely a positive!
I planted one three years ago and the bush hasn’t grown one inch. It’s size is exactly the same as the day I bought it. Can anyone tell me what would cause this to happen.
Hi Heather,
is it in a spot that gets 6-8 hours of sunlight? Do you know if your soil is neutral to alkaline? (you can test it with a soil ph test kit)? Lilacs thrive on fertile and well-drained soil that is humus-rich, too. What zone are you in? Lilac bushes need Winter chill, though there are some varieties that are low-chill and can be grown outside those zones. They also don’t need a lot of fertilizing, and fertilizer with too much nitrogen is not good. I hope this helps!