Lilacs are deciduous shrubs or trees which produce flowers in the spring or early summer. Once they are established, they require minimum care, providing you know the proper methods for how to grow them.

1. Not all lilacs are lilac-colored; they can also be white, blue, pink or yellow.
2. If your lilac doesn't flower, it either needs more sun or needs pruning.
3. Lilacs will not grow in soggy soil.
4. Lilacs need at least six hours of sunlight.
5. Most lilacs like USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7, but some can grow in warmer or colder areas.

• Lilacs originated in Asia and Europe, and have been cultivated for over 300 years.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana However, lilacs are most famous for their flowers, which they produce every spring in abundant quantities. If you have ever wanted to grow your own lilacs, then there is no time like the present. Even someone with a black thumb will find lilacs an easy plant to care for.

• All lilacs belong to the genus Syringa, but that does not mean they are all the same. The characteristics of different lilac species make them more suited for different areas. For example, most varieties of lilacs will not do well in warmer climates such as USDA Hardiness Zones 8 or 9, located in the southeastern United States.USNA: USNA - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: South-Midwest US You also want to consider how large you want your lilacs to get. Some varieties stay as small as 4 feet, while others grow close to 30 feet. Selecting the right species of lilac is important if you want to have lilacs with fewer problems and minimal fuss.

1. Has the longest midseason blooming time.Martha Stewart: Lilacs
2. Very hardy and drought resistant but more susceptible to disease and pests.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana
3. Slow growing.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)

1. Has smaller "cut" leaves that give it a finer texture.Michigan State University Extension: Syringa laciniata--Cutleaf Lilac

2. Heat tolerant and mildew resistant.NC State University: Shrubs: Syringa laciniata

3. Easy to grow; adaptable.UConn Plant Database: Syringa laciniata

1. Begins flowering liberally when it is small.UConn Plant Database: Syringa meyeri

2. Maintenance and trouble free; mildew resistant; Requires little pruning.Michigan State University Extension: Syringa meyeri--Meyer Lilac OSU Pocket Gardner: Syringa meyeri

3. Cultivar 'Palibin' (Palbin Meyer or Korean dwarf) can be grown in Zone 8 and parts of Zone 9.Garden Ideas: Lilac Time

1. Produces smaller flowers mid to late season.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs

2. Heat tolerant and mildew resistant.Michigan State University Extension: Syringa microphylla--Littleleaf Lilac

3. Long flowering period.Oregon State University: Subperba Littleleaf Lilac

1. One of the first lilacs to bloom in the spring.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs

2. Moderate growth rate.NC State University: Shrubs: Syringa oblata

3. Easy to grow and adaptable.

4. UConn Plant Database: Syringa oblata</ref>

1. 'Miss Kim' cultivar is resistant to powdery mildew.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana

2. Vigorous.NC State University: Shrubs: Syringa patula

1. A tree lilac that has a vigorous growth and peeling bark.Michigan State University Extension: Syringa pekinensis--Pekin Lilac

2. Very late blooming.The International Lilac Site: Lilac Information page

3. Does not flower for years after planting.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana

4. Drought tolerant.NC State University: Shrubs: Syringa pekinensis

1. Blooms for two weeks in the late spring or early summer.Martha Stewart: Syringa reticulata

2. Resistant to scale, powdery mildew and borers.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana

3. Moderate growth rate; capable of reaching heights of 25 feet.OSU Pocket Gardner: Syringa reticulata

1. Flowers smell like cloves.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana

2. Late blooming.UConn Plant Database: Syringa villosa

3. Susceptible to diseases such as blights, leaf spots, wilt and ring spot virus.Kemplar Center for Home Gardening: Syringa villosa

1. Capable of being grown in Zone 8 and parts of Zone 9.Garden Ideas: Lilac Time

2. Blooms mid to late season.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana

3. Grows faster than common lilac.University of New Hampshire: [

4. http://extension.unh.edu/resources/resource/591/Growing_Lilacs Growing Lilacs] (May 9, 2000) </ref>

5. Has few disease or insect problems.Kemplar Center for Home Gardening: Syringa x chinensis 'Lilac Sunday'

1. Cable of growing in Zone 2.Garden Ideas: Lilac Time

2. Early blooming.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana

1. Has smaller flowers than common lilac on drooping branches.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs

2. Can have problems with powdery mildew and other diseases.Kemplar Center for Home Gardening: Syringa x persica

3. Rapid growth rate.NC State University: Shrubs: Syringa meyeri

1. Grows in Zone 2.Garden Ideas: Lilac Time
2. Late blooming.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)
3. Very hardy.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs

• YouTube: Hulda Klager Lilac Festival (Time: 3:57)

• Once you have choose a type of lilac, you will need to purchase a few for your garden. In general, you will want to choose nursery-grown plants that are 2 to 4 feet tall.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs

• Lilacs can be planted in the spring or fall. It is usually better to plant lilacs in the fall after the leaves have dropped. This will give the roots a chance to establish themselves before the leaves appear. You can also plant lilacs in the spring before the buds start to unfold.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs

• Lilacs can be grown in most settings, but there are some areas that are better than others.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs Here is a list of the ideal conditions for most lilacs:

1. Sun: Lilacs need at least 6 hours of full sun a day.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs More sun is better than less since too little sun can cause the lilac not to flower.The International Lilac Site: Lilac Information page
2. Air Circulation: Good air circulation is necessary to reduce chances of any fungal disease.Martha Stewart: Lilacs
3. Space: Lilacs need at least 6 feet between plants for a hedge, 10 to 15 feet for a shrub.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)
4. Drainage: Lilacs need good drainage. Soggy soil causes the roots to rot and will eventually kill the plant.The International Lilac Site: Lilac Information page
5. pH level: The ideal pH level for lilacs is 6.5 to 7.0.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)

1. Dig a hole. The hole should be slightly deeper than the pot and large enough to fit the roots without bending or breaking them.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs Utah State University: Growing Lilacs

2. Remove the lilac from the pot and score the roots. For bare root lilacs, soak the roots in a bucket of water.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs Fox Hill Lilac Nursery: How to Properly Plant your Lilac

3. Work a bucket of peat moss and a cup of 5-10-5 fertilizer into the soil. You can use cow manure as an alternative fertilizer.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs

4. Set the plant so that it is 2 to 3 inches deeper in the hole than it was at the nursery.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs

5. Fill in the hole and water the lilac thoroughly.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs

6. Add a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch around the lilac to help protect the roots, control weeds and conserve moisture.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)

• In general, lilacs are easy to care for and require very little maintenance.

1. You will only need to water your lilacs while they are young or during severe droughts.Martha Stewart: Lilacs Most lilacs are drought-resistant.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs : Home & Garden Television
2. If your lilac is growing vigorously, it does not need fertilizing. Otherwise, you can add about 1/2 pound of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 25 square feet of soil in the early spring or mid-fall.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)

• Lilacs will not require pruning for the first five years after they are planted or once they reach 6 to 8 feet high.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana At that point, they will need to be properly pruned or they will become overgrown and may eventually stop flowering.Martha Stewart: Lilacs If that has already happened to your lilac, then you will need to rejuvenate it, which is a more severe form of pruning.

• You need to prune your lilac so that it is has approximately seven to twelve stems of different ages and thickness that don't cross each other.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana

1. As soon as the flowers fade, deadhead the lilacs.Martha Stewart: Lilacs This will prevent seedpods from growing, which require a lot of energy and can cause the lilac to flower poorly the following year.Plant Palette: Lilacs (April 20, 2008)
2. You should prune immediately after the lilac stops flowering.Plant Palette: Lilacs (April 20, 2008)
3. You will want to remove:
   1. Diseased or dead branches.Martha Stewart: Lilacs
   2. Branches that are three or more inches thick.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana
   3. Small, twiggy branches.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana
4. Prune branches just above a bud.Martha Stewart: Lilacs
5. You may need to thin out top growth to increase the amount of sunlight that reaches the buds at the center of the plant.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)
6. If your lilac has become too tall, try cutting one or two of the older limbs at ground level with a saw.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs : Home & Garden Television

• Lilacs are a wonderful addition to any garden. You will probably discover that the biggest problem you have is how to keep your neighbors from stealing all your flowers. Luckily, lilacs produce enough that you will have enough to share.