8. Dwarf Korean
Dwarf Korean (S. meyeri ‘Palibin’) is a well-liked six-foot shrub with an eight-foot unfold, and I see it on a regular basis in nurseries up right here in Alaska.
It’s superb for smaller gardens or container rising, thanks so its rounded, bushy progress behavior and mature top and width of 4 to 5 toes.
A recipient of the Award of Backyard Benefit in 1993, this cultivar additionally gained a gold medal from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 2000.
Dwarf Korean
The purple flowers bloom profusely within the spring and provides off a candy perfume.
They shut out the summer season with one gentle rebloom to depart you with a candy reminiscence till blooms come round once more subsequent spring.
Discover vegetation in #3 and #5 containers from Nature Hills Nursery.
9. Ivory Silk
‘Ivory Silk’ is a Japanese tree lilac (S. reticulata) cultivar that produces enormous, cream-colored panicles and delivers that traditional lilac scent.
You’ll want a variety of room in your backyard if you wish to develop this one, because it tops out between 15-25 toes tall with a diffusion of 10-15 toes.
‘Ivory Silk’
The darkish reddish bark makes a beautiful assertion in your yard even as soon as the leaves drop off within the fall.
‘Ivory Silk’ is hardy to Zones 3 to 7, blooms in June, and offers the proper shade for a sweet-scented picnic.
Discover vegetation in #5 containers accessible at Nature Hills Nursery.
10. James Macfarlane
‘James Macfarlane’ (S. x prestoniae) is a Preston lilac that produces dark-pink buds that open into light-pink flowers.
He grows as much as eight toes tall with a diffusion of as much as 10 toes, making him an ideal alternative for a privateness hedge.
‘James Macfarlane’
Plus, he’s extra-hardy, thriving in Zones 2 to 7. Candy-smelling ‘James Macfarlane’ blooms in Might and June.
You’ll find naked root vegetation accessible at Nature Hills Nursery.
11. Japanese Tree Lilac
The species S. reticulata aka Japanese tree lilac, is a multi-branched tree that produces small cream-colored flowers and deep inexperienced leaves that drape elegantly over your grassy yard.
I name it the “studying lilac,” as a result of the tree creates a comfortable nook for book-lovers like me to unfold a picnic blanket and curl up with a novel.
Regardless of their small dimension, the early summer-blooming flowers pack loads of scent.
S. reticulata
S. reticulata grows as much as a surprising 20 to 25 toes tall with a diffusion of 15 to 25 toes, and does finest in Zones 3 to 7.
Discover naked root vegetation accessible at Nature Hills Nursery.
Learn extra about rising this selection right here.
12. Ludwig Spaeth
The deep purple-red colour of ‘Ludwig Spaeth’ (S. x vulgaris) is sufficient to make even the toughest coronary heart swoon.
The flowers of this French hybrid are additionally extremely aromatic. It blooms barely later within the spring or early summer season than different varieties, making it straightforward so that you can lengthen your yard’s lilac present.
‘Ludwig Spaeth’
Reaching as much as 10 toes tall and spreading as much as eight toes broad, ‘Ludwig Spaeth’ creates a beautiful privateness hedge and is hardy in Zones 3 to 7.
You’ll find naked root vegetation accessible at Nature Hills Nursery.
13. Miss Canada
For a pink-flowered Preston cultivar that additionally offers fairly foliage within the fall, attempt ‘Miss Canada’ (S. x prestoniae).
This mid-sized shrub grows to between six and 9 toes tall and 5 and eight toes broad. Its clusters of flowers bloom in early summer season for 2 to 3 weeks.
‘Miss Canada’
The cheerful pink blossoms odor pleasant, and the shrub thrives in Zones 3-7. Within the fall, the leaves flip a wealthy yellow colour.
You’ll find naked root vegetation accessible at Nature Hills Nursery.
14. Miss Kim
‘Miss Kim’ is a cultivar of S. pubescens var. patula, a dwarf Korean lilac initially launched by College of New Hampshire in 1954.
It’s superb for these in barely hotter rising zones, as she thrives in Zones 4 to 9. This tidy shrub reaches a top and width of 4 to 5 toes and produces giant, sweet-smelling blooms in a light-purple colour.
‘Miss Kim’
A prolific bloomer, ‘Miss Kim’ produces flowers within the springtime, however her dark-green foliage stays engaging through the summer season earlier than it provides option to a surprising claret within the fall.
You’ll find naked root vegetation, #3 or #5 containers from Nature Hills Nursery.
15. Pocahontas
‘Pochahontas’ is a S. x hyacinthiflora cultivar with a profusion of brilliant purple flowers bursting forth from deep purple buds in early spring.
With a mature top and unfold of 10 to 12 toes, this one makes a hanging impression, positively lined from high to backside in blooms.
‘Pochahontas’
Appropriate for cultivation in Zones 2 to 7, ‘Pochahontas’ is a surprising privateness display screen or a back-of-the-border delight.
You’ll find ‘Pochahontas’ vegetation accessible in #3 containers at Nature Hills Nursery.
16. Rosie
As peppy as her title suggests, ‘Rosie’ (S. vulgaris), wows you along with her bright-pink flowers – and her warmth tolerance.
She’s a part of the Seaside Occasion™ sequence of “low chill” lilac cultivars developed by John Schoustra, a plant breeder in California.
‘Rosie’
Which is nice information for these of you in hotter rising zones: with fewer chilling hours required than is typical in a lilac, she thrives in Zones 4 to 10.
‘Rosie’ grows as much as 12 toes tall and spreads six to eight toes, and smells pleasant.
You should buy ‘Rosie’ in four-inch pots from Spring Hill Nurseries by way of the House Depot.
17. Royalty
Would you like a lightweight, lavender-colored cultivar that’s extremely fragrant and blooms later within the spring and early summer season than different varieties?
Then attempt ‘Royalty’ (S. x josiflexa), bred in Canada by famend horticulturist Isabella Preston within the Twenties.
‘Royalty’
Whereas its blossoms are a lighter colour, the buds are darkish, giving the panicles a layered look.
Hardy to Zones 3 to eight and requiring barely fewer chill hours than different varieties, ‘Royalty’ grows as much as 10 toes tall and spreads as much as eight toes.
You’ll find vegetation accessible at Nature Hills Nursery.
18. Saugeana
‘Saugeana’ aka Persian lilac is a hybrid cross between S. vulgaris and S. persica, typically listed as S x chinensis.
It was first found in Rouen, France, in 1777 and is usually known as the “Rouen lilac.”
‘Saugeana’
‘Saugeana’ produces pale purple flowers from mid-Might with a candy perfume. The shrub grows 4 to eight toes tall and spreads all the way in which as much as 10 toes broad.
This selection adapts nicely to virtually any soil and is hardy in Zones 3 to 7.
Discover naked root vegetation on-line at Nature Hills Nursery.
19. Scentara Double Blue
For an alluring double-flowered blossom that’s essentially the most attractive blue-violet colour you’ve ever seen, plant Scentara® Double Blue (S. x hyacinthiflora).
This cultivar blooms in mid-spring and fills your yard with that pleasing, traditional lilac scent.
Scentara® Double Blue
The shrub grows six to eight toes tall with the same unfold and thrives in Zones 2 to eight.
You’ll find vegetation accessible in quite a lot of sizes at Quick Rising Bushes.
20. Sensation
In case you adore each purple and white lilacs, why not attempt ‘Sensation’ (S. vulgaris)? This distinctive cultivar boasts purple flowers edged in white for a sublime, layered look.
So lovely is that this cultivar that it was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Backyard Benefit in 2012. Plus, it blesses you with its magnificence for a full month in mid-spring.
‘Sensation’
Evenly aromatic ‘Sensation’ is hardy to Zones 3 to 7, grows as much as 10 toes, and spreads as much as 12 toes.
You’ll find vegetation accessible at Nature Hills Nursery.
21. Sunday
For brilliant purple clusters of sweet-scented blossoms adorning your yard, plant ‘Sunday,’ (S. x chinensis). ‘Sunday’ blooms abundantly, inflicting the branches to arch over.
‘Sunday’
‘Sunday’ blooms in early- to mid-spring and thrives in Zones 3 to 7. It grows as much as 10 toes tall and spreads about eight toes.
Discover a four-inch pots accessible from Spring Hill Nurseries by way of the House Depot.
22. Tiny Dancer
In case you dream of a aromatic border that doesn’t require fixed trimming to ensure it doesn’t swallow your yard, attempt ‘Tiny Dancer’ (S. vulgaris) aka ‘Elsdancer.’
This dwarf selection grows as much as simply 5 toes tall and three to 4 toes broad and produces four- to five-inch bunches of heady lavender-colored blooms.
‘Tiny Dancer’
‘Tiny Dancer’ isn’t as cold-hardy as another cultivars – it thrives in Zones 4 to eight. It’s proof against powdery mildew, making it a perfect cultivar for these of you who stay in wet areas.
Discover naked root vegetation accessible at Burpee through the spring and summer season months.
23. Yankee Doodle
For a traditional American lilac, plant a ‘Yankee Doodle’ (S. vulgaris) in your yard.
This deep-purple magnificence was cultivated in 1985 by Father John L. Fiala, an avid Ohio lilac breeder, and he counted it amongst his favourite creations.
‘Yankee Doodle’
‘Yankee Doodle’ grows as much as 10 toes tall and spreads as much as six toes. Extremely fragrant, ‘Yankee Doodle’ blooms in late spring for as much as 4 weeks and thrives in Zones 2-8.
Discover naked root vegetation accessible at Nature Hills Nursery.
Dreaming of Spring
There’s a lot to sit up for within the springtime if you’ve acquired one (or 5) lilac bushes or bushes planted all through your yard.
In case you love these vegetation as a lot as I do, attempt combining early bloomers with late bloomers for a near-constant rush of scent and colour.
What’s your favourite lilac selection? What number of have you ever planted at your property? Share any ideas or questions within the remark part under!
And for extra details about rising lilacs in your panorama, try these articles subsequent:
© Ask the Consultants, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Initially revealed November 27, 2020. Final up to date July 31, 2025. Product images by way of Burpee, Quick Rising Bushes, Nature Hills Nursery, Confirmed Winners, and Spring Hills Nursery. Uncredited images: Shutterstock. With extra writing and enhancing by Clare Groom.
