Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Plant out 6 weeks before your first fall frost. Space plants 72 in (183 cm) apart.
Photo: Joselodos, CC0 · source
When to plant
Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.
Optimal Fall Transplant
From a plantRecommended- Plant out6 weeks before your first fall frost
- First harvestthe first crop about 3 years after planting
Optimal Spring Transplant
From a plant- Plant out4 weeks before your last spring frost
- First harvestthe first crop about 3 years after planting
Growing lilac
- Spacing in the row
- 72 in (183 cm)
- Between rows
- 96 in (244 cm)
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Years to first crop
- 3
- Mature height
- 8-15 ft
- Hardy to
- USDA zone 3
- Life cycle
- Perennial
Feeding
- How often
- Rarely: established lilacs need little or no fertilizer, and extra nitrogen, including from lawn feed, gives leaves instead of flowers. If growth is poor, a light all-purpose shrub feed in early spring every few years is enough.
Your lilac, planned to the day.
Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.