Lilac roots generally spread one and one-half times the width of the shrub. A distance of 12 feet (4 m.) from the foundation is generally enough to prevent foundation damage.

How much room does a lilac bush need?

Here’s the first rule of planting: lilacs need lots of space to grow. If you’re planting a hedge, they’ll need a spot at least seven to eight feet wide and ten feet wide for a shrub. They also need at least six hours of sun a day to have excellent flowering. Provide a well-drained, alkaline soil.

Where should you not plant lilac bushes?

Lilacs grow best in full sun, so avoid planting them where they will be shaded for more than half a day. Be sure to plant them with enough space for future growth. Read the plant label to get the height and spread of the mature plant. To thrive, lilacs need good drainage.

Is lilac a foundation plant?

Their size makes lilacs inappropriate for foundation plantings, locations against walls and fences, and places where they will eventually shade or encroach upon established parts of the garden.

Do lilac trees have big roots?

You can generally expect shrubs and trees to develop roots that extend out about one and one-half times the length of the branches. Lilac roots are not considered invasive, but a shrub that’s 10′ wide will probably have roots extending out about 15′ in all directions.

What should I plant next to lilac?

You’ll find many attractive spring bulbs to fill up the area near your lilac bush as lilac companion plants. Bulb plants like daffodils, tulips, grape hyacinth and peonies multiply and naturalize. Plant enough of them and you’ll never weed in the area again.

Are lilacs good for privacy?

Lilac hedges, with their colorful, often fragrant blooms, provide privacy and beautify the landscape. Plant them as a screen, barrier, property line marker or garden room divider or backdrop.

How fast do lilacs grow?

The best time to plant lilac bushes is in the early fall before the ground freezes. They have a moderate growth rate of 1 to 2 feet per year.

How do you keep a lilac bush from spreading?

Prune the roots in a circle, using deep plunges of a sharp shovel, and then treat the suckers outside the circle with an herbicide such as Roundup®. Avoid spraying herbicide on any suckers still connected to the parent plant.

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

Shrub lilacs and bush lilacs are short and compact. … Tree lilacs can grow up to 25 feet (7.6 m.) high and have a tree-like appearance, but their many stems tend to get them classified as bushes. They are not technically trees, but they get big enough that you can treat them as if they are.

Article first time published on

Is lilac poisonous to dogs?

Lilacs do not contain any chemicals that will poison animals or humans, nor do they irritate the skin. Even though lilac stems, leaves, and flowers pose no health threat to dogs, it is a good idea to keep your dog from chewing on the plant.

What do lilacs symbolize?

Lilacs symbolize spring and renewal, but they had other meanings in different cultures. The Celtics saw lilacs as magical, and they symbolized old love in the Victorian age. … White lilacs represent purity and innocence, while purple lilacs symbolize spirituality. Magenta lilacs symbolize love and passion.

What is the lifespan of a lilac bush?

Many factors influence how long California lilacs will live. When these plants get proper pruning to remove older shoots, they can often survive for closer to 15 years. Without adequate pruning, California lilacs may live for around 10 years.

How deep do the roots go on a lilac bush?

Thanks. Roots from a lilac bush will generally remain in the top 18-24″ of soil but they may spread out a bit (it’s a natural tendancy for these plants to colonize an area). I wouldn’t be at all concerned that lilac roots might invade a sewer line that is 6-7 feet deep.

How do I dig up a lilac bush?

You can try pulling out the roots by hand if the plant is young. Use a shovel and hoe to dig down on all sides, exposing the roots. Use the shovel to remove the entire rootball. However, for older, established plants, you’ll do better using a tractor or truck to pull out the plant’s root system.

Is there a lilac bush that blooms all summer?

Bloomerang Purple lilac is the original reblooming lilac. It blooms in spring along with other lilacs, takes a brief rest to put on new growth, then blooms again from mid-summer through fall. … It doesn’t only bloom once in spring – it also blooms summer through fall.

How far apart do you space lilacs?

Set the plant 2 or 3 inches deeper than it grew in the nursery, and work topsoil in around the roots. Water in. Then fill in the hole with more topsoil. Space multiple lilac bushes 5 to 15 feet apart, depending on the variety.

Can lilacs be used as a hedge?

Lilacs are a beautiful and fragrant flower adored by many in the springtime. Lilacs can also grow very large and are often used to create a lilac hedge. A hedge will create privacy while adding beautiful spring flowers. These flowers smell wonderful and attract butterflies and bees.

When's the best time to plant a lilac bush?

The best time to plant lilacs is in late fall before the ground freezes. The next best time to plant is in early spring after the ground thaws.

What do lilacs attract?

The heavily-scented purple flowers on the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) bloom in late May and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. The cut flowers are perfect to bring the scent of spring right into your home.

At what age do lilacs bloom?

Age: Lilac plants need time to grow before they begin flowering. So, if you have a very young plant, it may not be mature enough to bloom. Most plants start blooming after three or four years but some may take as long as six or seven. The blooms for the first few years will be sparse but should increase with time.

Can lilacs be grown in pots?

Growing a lilac bush in a pot is a possibility. When selecting a lilac variety for a decorative pot, look for a dwarf variety such as our Bloomerang® Dwarf Purple Lilac. … Ideal placement for potted lilacs can be balconies, rooftop patios, decks, and very small garden or landscape areas.

Is lilac an annual or a perennial?

With its flower power and extended bloom time, ‘Lilac Falls’ is one perennial growers, landscapers and gardeners will surely fall in love with.

Do lilacs need male and female flowers?

Lilacs are pollinated through both biotic and abiotic means. … Lilacs can be self-pollinated when the plant contains both male and female flowers. If it is near another lilac bush, then it also can be cross-pollinated, which means the pollen sac from one plant lands on the stigma of a flower from another plant.

Do lilac bushes spread?

Lilac bushes will typically flower without any effort from you. However, if left to grow and spread on their own, common lilacs will eventually only flower on the tops of the uppermost branches.

When can you cut back lilac bushes?

When To Prune As a general rule for all lilacs, they should be pruned immediately after they’re done flowering in the spring. Since lilacs set next year’s flower buds right after the current year’s flowers have faded, pruning later in the summer or fall will result in cutting off many or all of next year’s flowers.

Do lilac runners bloom?

Yes, they will bloom, eventually 🙂 Lilacs commonly spread by suckers to form rather dense thickets if left to their own devices and starting new plants from root suckers is very common.

How long does it take for a lilac bush to get big?

According to Ron Smith of North Dakota State University Extension, it takes two to three years before a young lilac produces its first blooms. But plant maturity more than age affects flowering, and the optimal size varies by variety.

How long does it take for a lilac to reach full height?

There are many types of lilacs. Most should reach full maturity at about 2-3 years old.

How do you encourage lilacs to grow?

Prune the plants to encourage blooming and growth. Trim the plant annually, right after it finishes blooming, to improve vigor. Remove weak branches until you have a clump of seven to 10 stems of varying ages. Thin out top growth to let sunlight into the center of the lilac.

What color lilac is most fragrant?

The lilac usually considered the most fragrant is a Chinese native—S. pubescens. It has small, white flowers tinged with purple.