According to Garden Design, the lilac, whose scientific name is syringa, is a flowering shrub that blooms every spring. It is loved all over the world for its small, delicate flowers and the sweet smell of its blooms, which drawing in butterflies. The flower color differs from species to species and includes white, purple, pink, and blue. There are different sizes of this plant, but most of them grow to be between 12 and 15 feet tall. This makes them a great hedge bush for your yard. This shrub is also marked by its vibrant foliage, which stays green year-round.
BETTER HOMES says that the lilac bush has a history that goes back to ancient Greece and is part of Greek mythology. One of these stories is about Pan, the god of the forests, who stalked a nymph named Syringa to win her love. Syringa wasnt interested in Pan and decided to become a lilac shrub to hide from him. In a strange twist, Pan found the bush without realizing it was the nymph he loved and used some of its parts to make the panpipe, also called the pan flute.
You’ll be happy to know that lilacs aren’t too hard to grow or take care of, and they can even live up to 100 years if they get the right conditions. Keep scrolling for an in-depth guide on how to plant and sustain this beautiful shrub.
Lilacs make a beautiful addition to any outdoor space with their fragrant blooms in hues of purple, pink, blue, and white But these large shrubs need ample room to reach their full size So how far should you plant a lilac bush from a fence or other structure?
Proper lilac spacing comes down to the mature size of your variety and provides the airflow and light levels needed for good growth. Follow these tips to determine ideal distances when incorporating lilacs along fences, houses, and other garden features
Factors Affecting Lilac Spacing
Consider the following when deciding how far to set back lilacs:
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Mature Height and Spread – Allow enough space for growth to full size. Standard lilacs reach 15+ feet tall and wide. Dwarf types may only grow 4-6 feet. Check tag or description.
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Air Circulation – Avoid cramming lilacs tight to fences or buildings. Good airflow prevents powdery mildew and other diseases
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Sun Exposure – Lilacs need full sun. Planting too close to structures shades the plant.
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Root Space – Give lilac roots room to expand through the soil without competing for nutrients and water.
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Accessibility – Leave room to prune, train shoots, and harvest flowers without damaging the fence or building.
Guidelines for Planting Lilacs Near Fences
Follow these general spacing guidelines when incorporating lilacs along backyard fences:
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Standard lilacs – 6-8 feet from fence
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Dwarf lilacs – 3-4 feet from fence
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Allow extra space if planting multiple lilacs in a border
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Plant dwarf varieties towards ends of borders or gates to avoid overcrowding
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Set lilacs back at least 2 feet from walkways and drives
These distances give lilac roots space to spread laterally while keeping ample airflow around the shrubs. The space also allows for easy pruning and maintenance without damaging your fence.
Tips for Planting Lilacs Near Houses
Since lilacs can become quite large, follow these tips when planting near your home:
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Set lilacs back at least 6 feet from house foundations and eaves.
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Choose compact dwarf varieties for planting closer to homes.
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Prevent foundation damage by installing a root barrier along the house.
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Prune regularly to keep growth from overwhelming windows, doors, and siding.
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Plant towards home corners or garages where they have room to spread.
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Avoid planting lilacs directly under roof overhangs or windows.
Keeping lilacs a safe distance from the structure prevents potential foundation and drainage issues as the plants mature.
Can You Plant Lilacs Right Next to a Fence?
Planting lilacs right against a fence is not recommended. They will soon outgrow the space and begin encroaching on the fence. This leads to a few issues:
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Branches rubbing against fence degrade the finish and leave marks.
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Attaching shoots to chain link or wire fences is impossible to undo.
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Flowers become hidden behind or crushed into the fence.
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Foliage pushes into fence space making pruning and maintenance difficult.
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Tight quarters create ideal conditions for powdery mildew infections.
If your heart is set on lining a fence with lilacs, look for the most compact dwarf variety available. Even then, allow 1-2 feet between the plants and fence for air flow and easier care. Periodic pruning is essential to keep growth controlled.
Can Lilacs Damage or Break Fences?
In the wrong conditions, lilac growth can definitely start dismantling fences. Here are some ways inadequate spacing from fences causes issues:
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New shoots grow through gaps in picket, split rail, lattice, and other open-style fences. This entwines the plant with the fence.
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Branches grow over, under, and through fences making them impossible to remove without damage.
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Lilacs can grow through chicken wire and chain link fences, embedding the branches in the holes.
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Wind and storms whip tall lilac branches against fences, which can loosen pickets and panels over time.
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Dense foliage crowds out sun exposure along fences promoting rot of wood posts and materials.
The best way to avoid lilacs damaging fences is providing adequate spacing from the start. Pruning and training the plants is also critical to direct growth away from fences before it gets out of control.
Clever Solutions for Planting Lilacs in Tight Spaces
If you have limited space but really want the beauty of lilacs, here are some ideas that allow you to sneak them into smaller areas:
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Choose a compact dwarf or miniature lilac variety that stays under 5 feet tall.
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Plant lilacs in large planters or tubs that can be moved around to prevent crowding other structures.
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Prune and train lilacs rigorously to keep growth contained and directed where you want it.
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Build small garden trellises or panels to support cut lilac branches in ideal spots away from fences.
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Focus on growing lilacs as focal point specimens in center beds or islands away from borders and edges.
With some creativity and care, you can find room for lilacs even in the most cramped garden. Just be sure to provide occasional pruning and training to prevent them from encroaching where they shouldn’t.
Enjoy Lilacs Without Worry
Lilacs make outstanding additions to yards and gardens of all sizes when given proper room to reach their mature dimensions. Follow the spacing guidelines provided above to allow your lilacs to thrive while avoiding damage to nearby fences, homes, and other structures. A little planning goes a long way when siting these beautiful, fragrant shrubs.
How to grow lilacs
Lilacs are typically planted in the fall from a sucker (also known as an offshoot) or a transplant bought directly from a plant nursery. The former is essentially a weed-like shoot that sprouts up from the base of the plant and is connected to the root system, per Flower Patch Farmhouse. You will need to dig up the shoot in order to plant it in another location, taking care to catch the roots embedded within the earth as you do so. The more shoots you collect, the better the chances that one will survive once planted and grow into a full lilac bush. Once youve dug up a few, place them in a container of water. Next, youll need to dig a hole deep enough to plant the sucker so it stands up straight. Fill it in with soil and keep it well-watered until it gets established. Keep in mind that suckers take a few years to become full-grown bushes.
A transplanted lilac shrub is one that is grown in a container and is typically well established when you purchase it from a nursery, according to Almanac. You can also find transplants with their root systems wrapped in burlap. Its very simple to plant this type of lilac in your garden. You should first dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the entire root ball and then cover it completely with soil. The area around the roots should be well packed with soil.
How to care for lilacs
Once planted, lilacs wont require much intervention on your end as long as the growing conditions meet their needs. Lilacs require plenty of sun and should be planted in an area of your garden that receives direct sun during the spring growing season, as noted by The Spruce. This equates to a minimum of six hours a day of full sunlight. When it comes to watering needs, the less water you give, the better. In fact, lilacs wont thrive in regions that receive too much rain or humidity. Note that the water needs of young versus old shrubs will differ. Immature plants need regular watering while already established shrubs should only be given water in the absence of rain every couple of weeks. Overwatering renders your lilacs susceptible to fungal diseases that can cause root rot.
Since lilacs don’t like it when the ground is too wet, make sure that the soil in your garden drains well and has a neutral pH level too. In the spring, you can fertilize and sprinkle mulch around the base of your lilac bushes to help them bloom well. Additionally, it is very important to prune the bushes after the flowering season is over and the flowers begin to fall off. Prune any weakened branches to facilitate air circulation and cut down on overgrowth. It’s important not to cut back your lilac shrubs too much, or they won’t bloom as much the next year.
Lilacs (scientific name: syringa) hail from southeastern Europe and are a relative of the olive family, as per Britannica. Depending on the variety of lilac, this plant can grow up to 30 feet and resemble a small tree. There are over 1,000 varieties of lilac in existence today that come in a range of sizes and colors. Many have been crossed with other varieties within the family and are engineered hybrids. As such, some varieties are better to grow in your yard than others, depending on your needs and the size of your outdoor space.
Within the common lilac variety (scientific name: syringa vulgaris), you have Little Boy Blue, which produces blooms in a light-blue hue and is a smaller variety of lilac; its perfect for the nooks and crannies of your garden, according to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Another dwarf shrub, Miss Kim, is a part of the Manchurian lilac variety (scientific name: syringa patula). It can grow as tall as 6 feet but is more likely to hover around 4 feet in height. The Japanese tree lilac (scientific name: syringa reticulata) is a popular variety of lilac that can grow up to 30 feet in height and features dark-red bark and tiny, white flowers. The Meyer lilac (scientific name: syringa meyeri) is a great option for more humid environments as it is resistant to mildew. You may also enjoy its abundant violet blooms.
You may be pleased to learn that no part of the lilac plant is toxic to humans, as per Plant Addicts. This means it wont cause digestive distress when ingested or skin irritation when touched. You can even incorporate the lilac bloom into your favorite recipes. Homespun Seasonal Living recommends baking lilac flowers into sweet treats or sprinkling them on salads for a savory palette. Lilacs are also a popular addition to teas and homemade wines. If youre feeling extra creative, decorate the top of a cake with lilacs for visual texture. However, you may have to assure any guests that the lilacs are safe to eat!
Lilacs are safe for people to eat, but if you have pets, you may need to be extra careful because the plant has been shown to make animals sick because it makes their stomachs hurt. This depends on how well the animal can handle lilacs; they don’t have any harmful chemicals that could make it uncomfortable. The one exception to this is the Persian lilac, which is poisonous to cats. In case your pets like to chew on plants, you might want to keep them away from your lilac bushes. Creating a barrier around each shrub is always a good idea to keep your pets away. That being said, this might not be possible in all gardens. You can also use a bitter spray to keep pets away from your lilacs.
Lilac privacy fence
FAQ
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