If the intoxicate odour of fragrant lilac flowers wafts through your garden in early springiness or late fountain through early summer , you ’ll know that hummingbird and other pollinators are sure to come after . In addition to their fragrance and wildlife benefit , lilac flowers offer a rainbow of colors that complement your landscape painting innovation .

White flowers , pinkish prime , or over-embellished flowers — take your pick — or go with variations on these paper by choosing cream , rose , Battle of Magenta or lavender . Regardless of the color you prefer , you wo n’t be disappointed by the blossom - packed panicle that appear as if they ’re dripping off your lilac bushes .

maximise the bloom potential on a lilac tree is the same as that for a lilac bush . Although many lilac commonly are called trees , " Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree form " may put the point on the pencil of truth since these plant mostly are considered bombastic bush . That is , with the exception of the giant tree diagram lilac , also hollo Japanese tree lilac ( Syringa reticulata ) . set this beaut in your landscape to enjoy flowers in spring and shade in summertime .

A close-up of a lovely Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) with yellow flowers.

Lilac Tree Height vs. Other Lilacs

Towering over other types of lilac , Japanese tree lilac earns its coarse name . With a potential matured height of 30 feet , these deciduous lilac trees are almost twice or even three times the size of common lilacs ( Syringa vulgaris ) , the coinage most commonly plant .

Also called English or Gallic lilac , the coarse lilac top out at 8 to 16 feet . Korean lilac ( Syringa oblata ) and Preston lilac ( Syringaxprestoniae ) are even shorter , with a potential fledged tiptop of 12 foundation .

Each species of these and other lilacs also includes numerous cultivar , notably lilac tree ’s Ivory Silk , vernacular lilac ’s Charles Joly , Victor Lemoine and Primrose , Korean lilac ’s Esther Staley and Preston lilac ’s Miss Canada .

Lilac hardiness varies , depending on species and cultivar , covering USDA plant hardiness zones 2 through 8 . Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree lilacs are hardy in geographical zone 3 through 7 .

How to Care for a Lilac Tree

AlthoughNorth Carolina State Extensiontags Japanese Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree lilac as " the most trouble - free lilac , " you could still optimise its wellness by following some general care tips .

Sun

For maximum blooms , grow lilac trees in full Lord’s Day , which is at least six hours each Clarence Shepard Day Jr. ( more is good ) .

Soil

Although these trees tolerate clay soil , soils rich in constitutional subject are optimum . Check the soil pH. Slightly acid to more or less alkaline is the seraphic spot ( 6.0 to 8.0 ) .

Water

Aim for more or less dampish soil , keeping in head that this does not mean waterlogged . Well - draining soil is a must . Using mulch will serve economize moisture .

Fertilizer

Although you may conceive that any industrial plant that extravagantly flower require a lot of fertilizer , lilac trees do n’t fit this cast . In fact , unless a soil test bring out nourishing - poor grunge , hold off on fecundate for two to three years after planting your lilac . In subsequent years , put on fertilizer only every few class , using a formulation for bush . Lawn fertilizers are high - nitrogen products , which are necessary to " green up " a lawn , but which will further lots of leaves on a lilac at the disbursal of plushy flowers .

Pruning

Pruning lilacs is within easier reach on shorter species and cultivar , but the see-through height of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree lilac realise availableness for rationalize much more unmanageable , unless you hire an arborist . For any lilac , pruning is best done immediately after blossom so the current season ’s development has enough time to begin bloom bud establishment . you could rationalize suckers any time . This is the growth that come out around the base of plants .

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