In mild-winter climates, you can’t pop just any lilac (Syringa vulgaris) into the ground and be treated to a bounty of blooms come spring. Most lilacs need a long period of winter chill for buds to mature and bloom the following spring. You’ll need to buy low-chill varieties. The good news is that cultivars have been bred for warmer zones (generally to zone 8). While lilacs aren’t fussy, they require extra care in warmer zones. Depending on your climate and the particular variety, expect blooms from March into May. We asked Monrovia Craftsman Lydia Gompper to recommend the best varieties for mild-climates. Here are her suggestions and care advice. (See her ideas about how to landscape with these romantic, wonderful flowering shrubs.)
Six Favorite Low-Chill Lilacs
Spectacular pure-white flowers in mid-May. Up to 12 ft. tall and 10 ft. wide.
Perfumed lavender flowers in mid-May. Up to 12 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide.
Sweetly-scented, lavender-blue flowers in mid-May. Up to 10 ft. wide and 6 ft. tall.
Fragrant, bluish-purple flowers in more humid areas. Up to 11 ft. tall and wide.
Wonderfully fragrant lilac-pink flowers mid-May. Up to 12 ft. tall and wide.
Clusters of late-blooming lavender-blue flowers. Up to 8 ft. tall and wide.
Care for me
- Full sun; at least 6 hours per day.
- Avoid over-crowding which can encourage powdery mildew.
- Avoid planting near lawns; year-round watering can prohibit dormancy.
- Until established, water regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- In warmest zones, after third season of growth, hold off watering starting in late September. This will induce winter dormancy; begin watering late February.
- Fertilize in late winter with an organic balanced 10-10-10 food.
- Prune right after bloom (and no later than June).
