When is Lilac in Season? A Guide to the Blooming Seasons of Different Lilac Varieties

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With their sweet fragrance and breathtaking colors, lilacs are one of the most beloved harbingers of spring. But when exactly is lilac season? The blooming time can vary depending on climate, the variety, and other factors.

In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of when different types of lilacs bloom so you can plan your garden to enjoy these classics for as long as possible.

Overview of Lilac Blooming Seasons

Lilacs are divided into three main blooming season categories:

  • Early Blooming Lilacs – Bloom in mid to late April. Examples Syringa meyeri, S potaninii

  • Midseason Blooming Lilacs – Bloom in early to mid May. Examples Syringa vulgaris, S. x hyacinthiflora

  • Late Blooming Lilacs – Bloom in late May to early June. Examples: S. villosa, S. komarowii

By selecting varieties across these blooming times, you can extend lilac season from as early as late April until early June. Even within these categories, subtle differences in bloom times exist. Tracking bloom dates each year will help you learn your varieties’ patterns.

Below we’ll explore the blooming characteristics of some of the most popular lilac types so you can plan your perfect spring lilac display

When Different Types of Lilacs Bloom

Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

The quintessential lilac, common lilac varieties bloom in mid May, with some early and late bloomers extending from late April to early June. Common lilac shrubs grow 8-15 feet tall. Choose named cultivars like ‘Sensation’ and ‘Katherine Havemeyer’ for more uniform bloom times.

Dwarf Korean Lilac (Syringa meyeri)

One of the first lilacs to bloom, dwarf Korean lilacs open flowers in late April to early May. They are compact shrubs growing 4-7 feet tall. Cultivars like ‘Palibin’ and ‘Ice Dance’ are early bloomers.

French Hybrid Lilacs (Syringa x hyacinthiflora)

French hybrids bloom in early to mid May, shortly before common lilacs. They are moderate sized shrubs reaching 8-10 feet tall. Popular varieties include ‘Esther Staley’, ‘Miss Canada’, and ‘Amethyst’.

Late Lilac (Syringa villosa)

As the name suggests, late lilac blooms late in the season, anywhere from late May to early June. It is a large shrub growing up to 15 feet tall. Late lilac offers a prolonged display into early summer.

Preston Lilacs (Syringa x prestoniae)

Preston lilacs are hybrids that bloom around the same time as common lilacs in May. They are valued for their disease resistance and large, fragrant flower clusters on compact 8 feet tall shrubs.

Tree Lilacs (Syringa reticulata)

Tree lilacs bloom in early to mid May, though some cultivars extend into late April. These small flowering trees grow 20-30 feet tall. Popular varieties include ‘Ivory Silk’, ‘Summer Snow’, and ‘Ellen Willmott’.

Extending Lilac Season in Your Garden

  • For the longest possible lilac display, plant early, mid, and late season bloomers.

  • Choose compact varieties for small spaces like dwarf Korean and French hybrids.

  • Site lilacs in cool microclimates to delay flowering.

  • Plant different varieties and bloom colors for interest after each finishes blooming.

  • Add other spring blooms like bulb flowers, peonies, and flowering trees to complement the lilacs.

With smart variety selection and placement, you can indulge in breathtaking, sweetly scented lilac blooms for up to two months in spring. Track bloom times over the years and make notes to discover your varieties’ patterns. Soon you’ll have the inside scoop on exactly when lilac season starts and ends in your garden each year!

Graphs and historical data

  • Earliest: May 7 (occurred in 1998)
  • Average: May 21
  • Latest: June 3 (occurred in 1996)
  • Earliest: March 23 (occurred in 1987)
  • Average: April 15
  • Latest: May 4 (occurred in 1950 and 1956)
  • Earliest: April 25 (occurred in 1987)
  • Average: May 12
  • Latest: May 26 (occurred in 1950)

About the common lilac

  • Lilacs are a type of woody shrub with heart-shaped, opposite leaves. It can grow between twelve and sixteen feet tall.
  • Lilacs produce fragrant flowers that are purple, white, or pink.
  • These flowers usually bloom in Minnesota in May and stay that way for about two weeks.
  • When it comes to phenology and citizen science, lilacs play a big role. With the help of volunteer observers, the US Department of Agriculture started a program in the 1950s to track the phenology of cloned lilac plants. Natures Notebook, a project of the USA National Phenology Network, is still being used by volunteers to keep an eye on lilacs, both cloned and non-clone plants.
  • The common lilac is related to the olive tree.

4 Expert Tips for Spectacular Lilac Blooms

FAQ

What month do lilacs bloom?

Fragrant blossoms in white, violet, bluish, lilac, pinkish, magenta, and purple, in single and double forms, typically begin blooming in late April and reach their peak near Mother’s Day. Late-blooming lilacs continue to bloom through the end of May.

When to buy lilac bushes?

The best time to plant lilacs is in the fall after the leaves have dropped, but before the ground freezes. You can plant lilacs in the spring before the buds start to unfold. Spring periods are very short, however, and transplanting at this time is recommended only in areas where winters are very severe.

Is there a difference between a lilac tree and a lilac bush?

Lilacs can grow as bushes or trees. Most lilacs sold today are bushes, so you’d be forgiven for being confused by the sight of one in tree form. While there are hundreds of varieties of lilac bushes, there is just one lilac tree, Syringa reticulata.

Do lilacs stay bloomed all summer?

Most lilac trees do not bloom more than once, but the Bloomerang lilac tree blooms in spring, pauses in early summer, and blooms again from summer all the way to the first frost of the year.

When is lilac season?

Depending on where you live and the lilac varieties you choose, Lilacs can provide color and fragrance from April through June. There are early-season, mid-season, late season Lilac varieties. Lilacs perform best in full sun in fertile, humus-rich, neutral to alkaline, and well-drained soil. Lilacs are very versatile.

Do lilacs bloom in spring?

Blooming in late spring, it is the showiest of the lilac species. Native to southeastern Europe, it is widely grown in temperate areas of the world and counts over 0 cultivars with single or double flowers in deep purple, lavender, blue, red, pink, white, and pale creamy yellow.

When does littleleaf lilac Bloom?

Littleleaf lilac is a late-flowering small ornamental shrub. This small, round ornamental shrub comes in sizes that do not exceed 5 feet. It features small, fragrant, late blooming flowers and makes a nice accent plant. Littleleaf lilac varieties bloom in mid to late spring.

When do Japanese lilacs bloom?

Japanese tree lilacs ( Syringa reticulata) can reach 25 to 30 feet tall. Lilac shrubs need a minimum of 6 hours full sun for best flowering. Most bloom in late May; however there are early spring, mid spring, and late-season blooming varieties, as well as new re-blooming varieties, like the Bloomerang® series.

Do Lilacs grow in full sun?

There are early-season, mid-season, late season Lilac varieties. Lilacs perform best in full sun in fertile, humus-rich, neutral to alkaline, and well-drained soil. Lilacs are very versatile. They make great border shrubs and are commonly used as screens, hedges, or specimens. Dwarf Lilacs are suitable plants for small gardens and even containers.

When do lilacs rebloom?

Lilacs flower from mid to late spring, depending on the variety. Bloomerang lilacs will rebloom from mid to late summer into fall. When to prune lilacs? Lilacs bloom on old wood, so they should be pruned just after flowering. If you wait until summer or later to prune, you may experience a loss of flowers the following year.

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