Are there many things that smell as sweet as a Lilac in full bloom in spring? Fragrance aside, their blooms are breathtaking!!

Lilacs will not tolerate the hot summers and very mild winters south of our state, but thankfully, several varieties thrive in Middle Tennessee! In our area with our hot, summer sun, Lilacs grow best in full sun with some light afternoon shade. They love medium-moist, well-drained soil. Their breathtaking blooms put on a spectacular show in April. We have several of those varieties available now at the nursery, and they are just beginning to bloom.

Several Varieties that Thrive in Middle Tennessee

'Bloomerang Dark Purple': 4-6' tall x 4-6' wide, a dwarf hybrid Lilac that is the perfect size for many gardens. Gorgeous, deep, dark purple flowers that rebloom throughout spring and summer! Upright habit.

'Maiden's Blush': 10-12' tall x 8-10' wide; fragrant, light pinkish-purple flowers, this early-blooming Lilac is an exceptional variety that is easy to grow!

'Palibin': 4-5' tall x 5-7' wide, dwarf Korean Lilac; blooms in late spring to summer with dozens of fragrant lilac purple blooms! Compact habit and low maintenance.

'Miss Kim': 6-8' tall x 6-8' wide, a compact Lilac featuring gorgeous, dark purple buds open to light lavender-pink flowers in spring. Dark green leaves turn burgundy red in fall on this compact Lilac!

'Katherine Havemeyer': 8-12' tall x 8-10' wide; double lavender purple blooms fade to light pink! Flowers in mid to late spring.

'President Grevy': 11' tall x 8' wide; a classic, gorgeous French hybrid that blooms with highly scented, bluish purple flowers! Upright habit, ideal for screening; allow room for air (don't plant several too close together, so they have room to grow).

'Scentara Double Blue': 8' tall x 8' wide, early-blooming Lilac; heavy bloomer with excellent disease resistance. Gorgeous, fragrant, bluish-purple, upright flowers adorn this shrub!

Soil

For the best blooms, Lilacs prefer slightly acidic soil; a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. A pH outside of these levels can lead to decreased blooms, deficiencies in nutrients, and stunted growth. To check your pH level in your soil, a simple soil test can be bought at the local home improvement store. If it turns out you need to amend your soil to make it more acidic, you can raise the pH by adding ground limestone to the soil around your lilac. To lower the pH, aluminum sulfate may be added to your soil. This amending is best done in the fall to be ready for the spring bloom season.

Lilacs prefer well-draining, fertile soil. If you have a lot of clay in your soil (as a lot of us do in Middle Tennessee), amend your soil with soil conditioner. We can instruct you on how much to use depending on how many Lilacs you're planting- ask us at the nursery. A little goes a long way. In addition to soil conditioner, you can add compost to your soil to help increase nutrient levels and support beneficial microorganisms. We offer several options here at the nursery.

Water

The first year Lilacs are planted, you will want to water them deeply every few days we aren't receiving rainfall, especially during the first spring, summer, and fall that they're planted (fall is typically our driest season). We suggest placing a hose at the base of each shrub on a very slow trickle (so the water doesn't run off) for approximately 20 minutes, every 4 days or so. Again, this is only if we haven't had adequate rainfall in a few days. Once your Lilacs have been planted for a year, their roots are established to the point where you would only need to water periodically if we are having a couple of weeks without rainfall.

Sun

In our region, Lilacs need full sun but prefer some slight afternoon shade. This protects them from our hot, summer afternoon sun in Middle Tennessee. For the best blooms, place your Lilacs in an area that receives at least 6+ hours of good sunlight.

Fertilizer

A general, balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) can be applied in early spring and again in mid-summer.

Landscape Uses

Lilacs look beautiful in a mass planting (planting in an odd number often looks best), as part of a mixed privacy screen, part of a backdrop in a cottage garden, or really, anywhere else you can dream up! They are gorgeous in spring and make a charming addition to a garden.