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Lilac

About Lilac

Common lilac is a highly fragrant, spring-flowering shrub or small tree. The pungently sweet fragrance is delightful but can be overpowering to some asthmatics. Most plants are grafted so suckers should be removed from rootstock to maintain the appearance and prevent unwanted spread.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Syringa vulgaris

Genus

Syringa

Family

Oleaceae

Order

Lamiales

Also known as

Common lilac, yankee doodle lilac and Common Purple Lilac Bush

How to care for Lilac

💦 Water

How often to water your Lilac

Lilac needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Lilac in your home

Lilac love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Lilac does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Lilac in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Lilac

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Lilac: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Lilac after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Lilac

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Lilac is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Lilac →

Benefits of Growing Lilac →

Common Lilac Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Lilac →

Outdoor Care Guide for Lilac →

💦 Water Needs

Lilac prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Lilac Water Frequency →

Lilac Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Lilac requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Lilac Light Requirements →

Lilac Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Lilac is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Lilac does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Lilac →

Best Pots for Lilac →

When and How to Successfully Repot Lilac →

What Are Healthy Lilac Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Lilac grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Lilac →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Lilac grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Lilac Lifecycle →

Lilac Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Lilac →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Lilac can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-7b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Lilac Temperature Tolerance →

Lilac Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Lilac →

When to Plant Lilac →

How to Plant Lilac →

Where to Plant Lilac →

Winter Care for Lilac →

Best Companion Plants for Lilac →

Is Lilac a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Lilac can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Lilac →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Lilac, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.