❚ All products were chosen independently by our editorial team. This review contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. Please read our affiliates FAQ page to find out more.

Syringa vulgaris 'Katherine Havemeyer'. Getty Images

How to grow lilac

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Plant
Flowers
Prune

You can expect lilacs to put on around 30-60cm of growth a year. To extend the season of interest, you could try growing a late-flowering clematis through the larger types.

How to grow lilac

Lilacs are easy to grow and make an attractive feature plant in a border. Choose a sunny spot that has well-drained soil and plant during autumn or spring to allow your plant to settle in while the ground is warm and the weather is not too cold or hot.

Where to grow lilac

Syringa vulgaris 'Lois Amee Utley'. Paul Debois

Lilacs grow best in a sunny location, in well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil that is alkaline to neutral. Lilacs are good plants for chalky or alkaline soils. Grow them alongside other late spring or early summer flowering shrubs such as ceanothus or underplant with perennials like hardy geraniums.

When to plant lilac

The best time to plant lilac is in autumn or spring, when the soil is warm and not waterlogged or frozen. Avoid planting during summer if possible as it will be harder for the plant to establish when conditions are dry and hot.

How to plant lilac

Dig a generous hole and plant your lilac to the level of the soil line. Back-fill and firm down the soil gently around the plant. Water in well. Mulch after planting to help retain moisture in the soil. If you're growing lilac in a pot, choose one that is at least 60cm in diameter. Plant into John Innes No.3 compost with some sand or grit added for drainage.

Can you plant lilac cuttings directly in the ground?

Lilac is best propagated by softwood cuttings in spring, and these are more reliable when potted up indoors and grown on before planting outside. However you can dig up lilac suckers and replant these elsewhere to create new lilac plants – dig up the sucker, cutting it away from the parent plant with some roots. Plant it in its new location and water well. The best time to do this is in spring.

How to care for lilac

Lilacs are low-maintenance shrubs but newly planted specimens will need regularly watering until established, especially during hot weather. Mulch lilac annually in spring. Spread a layer of organic matter, such as well-rotted garden compost, around the plant, leaving a gap around the stem.

How to take lilac cuttings

Propagate lilacs by softwood cuttings. The best time to take softwood cuttings is between March and August.

You can also propagate lilac from the suckers that often sprout from the base of the plant. Simply dig them up with some roots attached and replant.

How to prune lilac

As the flowers fade towards midsummer, you can deadhead spent blooms on smaller shrubs. Prune shrubs for the desired height and shape after flowering, also removing any dead, diseased or dying wood. Cut off the flowers and the young stem, avoiding cutting into old wood. The young stem will be flexible unlike old wood.

If you need to renovate an overgrown or leggy old tree, prune when the plant is dormant, in winter. Lilacs respond well to hard pruning and you can cut the whole plant back to around 1m above ground. Because they flower on the previous year's wood, you will lose the flowers for a at least one year. Alternatively you could remove some of the stems over a period of two or three years, cutting them back to the ground – this will ensure that you still enjoy some spring flowers.

Pests and diseases

Lilacs are not usually affected by many pests, but may be attacked by lilac leaf mining moths or thrips. These do not usually harm the vigour of the plant.

Lilac blight causes die back, distorted and blemished leaves and ultimately, leaf drop. Blossoms can also be affected, turning brown and limp. Pruning out the affected branches, well beyond signs of infection, in dry sunny weather may help. This also will improve air circulation, helping to control the spread.

Lilacs can also be affected by honey fungus.

Lilac problems

There are a couple of common problems with lilacs:

Poor flowering in spring could be due to poorly drained soil or not enough sunshine – lilacs need a sunny spot. Late frosts can also spoil the flowers.

Suckers may spring from the base of the plant. If you don't want to propagate from them, tear or wrench (rather than cut) the shoots away. This can be done from midsummer onwards and will help to prevent them regrowing.

Advice on buying lilac

You can find lilacs at garden centres but for the best selection, look online
Check the ultimate height and spread, as these can vary considerably
Always check plants for signs of damage and disease before planting

Where to buy lilac online

Lilac varieties to grow

Syringa 'Red Pixie'

Syringa ‘Red Pixie’ is a compact lilac, bearing masses of fragrant pink flowers, which open from red buds. It often then flowers again in late summer or early autumn. Perfect for a small garden, it can also be grown in a large pot. Height x Spread: 1.8m x 1.8m

Buy Syringa 'Red Pixie' from Crocus

Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'

Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' is a Korean lilac that bears masses of panicles of fragrant, purple-pink flowers from late spring to early summer, contrasting with oval, dark green leaves. It’s ideal for growing in a sunny ornamental border. Compact and slow growing, it's suitable for smaller gardens or growing in pots. H x S: 1.5m x 1.5m

Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose'

Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose' has white flowers that mature to cream-yellow and have an exceptional lilac scent. H x S: 3m x 3m

Buy Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose' from Marshalls

Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation'

Lilac vulgaris 'Sensation'. Jason Ingram

Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation' is a striking lilac with unusual, purple-red flowers that are edged with white. H x S: 4m x 4m

Syringa vulgaris 'Katherine Havemeyer'

A spreading shrub with double, lavender blue flowers, set against heart-shaped leaves. H x S: 4m x 4m

Syringa vulgaris 'Madame Lemoine'

A beautiful large double white-flowered variety bred by the French breeder Victor Lemoine in 1890, and still going strong today. H x S: 7m x 7m

Syringa vulgaris 'Charles Joly'

Stunning, double purple-red flowers. H x S: 4m x 4m

Syringa emodi 'Aureovariegata'

The Himalayan lilac, Syringa emodi 'Aureovariegata', has variegated green foliage and fragrant white flowers in late spring and early summer. H x S: 5m x 4m

Buy Syringa emodi 'Aureovariegata' from Burncoose Nurseries

Frequently asked questions

Do lilacs come back every year?

Yes, lilacs are deciduous shrubs so will flower every year in early summer. In autumn, lilacs lose their leaves and will produce new foliage the following spring.

Is there a difference between a lilac tree and a lilac bush?

Some lilac varieties can be grown as a tree or a bush. Syringa vulgaris, the common lilac, grows into a large bush of around 7m high, whereas the Korean lilac, Syringa meyeri 'Palabin', can be grown as a bush or trained into a small standard, which reaches around 1.5m tall. Nurseries also offer several varieties as either bushes or trees.

Is lilac invasive in the UK?

Lilac is not considered invasive in the UK, but many varieties, including common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, do have a suckering habit. These lilacs produce a lot of suckers. If you cut these down to ground level, you'll find the plant produces a lot more new shoots. If you have a small garden, or are looking for a lilac that doesn't spread in this way, do your research before buying. Look for a dwarf variety or one sold as 'non-suckering'.