Lilac is a flowering plant known for its delicate beauty, sweet fragrance, and soft, romantic hues. Belonging to the Syringa genus, lilacs are deciduous shrubs or small trees native to south eastern Europe and eastern Asia. Their blossoms typically bloom in spring, with tiny, star-shaped flowers clustered densely on cone-shaped panicles. These blooms come in shades of pale lavender, deep purple, white, and even pink, depending on the variety.

Lilacs are beloved not only for their visual appeal but also for their heady, nostalgic scent, which has made them a favourite in gardens and perfumery for centuries. Symbolically, lilacs represent the joy of youth, renewal, and the first emotions of love. In landscaping, they are often planted as ornamental hedges or centre pieces thanks to their vibrant colour and enticing aroma.

How To Grow

1. Choose the Right Spot Sunlight: Lilacs love the sun—aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Soil: Well-drained, slightly alkaline to neutral soil (pH 6.5–7.0) is ideal. Avoid soggy or clay-heavy spots.

2. Planting Time The best time to plant lilacs is in the fall or early spring, while the plant is dormant and before it starts actively growing.

3. How to Plant Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball. Gently loosen the roots before placing the plant in the hole. Fill the hole with soil, water thoroughly, and add mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

4. Watering & Care Water regularly during the first year to establish roots—after that, lilacs are fairly drought-tolerant. Don’t overwater; lilacs don’t like wet feet.

5. Pruning Prune right after blooming (usually late spring). Lilacs bloom on old wood, so trimming too late in the season can cut off next year’s flowers. Remove spent blooms and any dead or crossing branches.

6. Fertilizing Lilacs don’t need much fertilizer—too much nitrogen leads to more leaves, fewer flowers. If needed, use a balanced fertilizer in early spring.

7. Patience Pays Off Lilacs may take a couple of years to start blooming well, especially if they were planted from young shoots. But once established, they’re long-lived and low-maintenance.

How/When To Harvesting

1. Timing is Everything Harvest in the morning, when the blooms are most hydrated. Pick lilacs when about ¾ of the flowers on a cluster have opened—they won’t open much more once cut.

2. Use Sharp, Clean Tools Use sharp garden shears or scissors to avoid crushing the stems. Cut stems at a 45-degree angle for better water uptake.

3. Choose the Right Stems Go for stems that are 12–18 inches long, ideally from newer, healthier growth. Avoid old, woody stems unless you're doing some pruning at the same time.

4. Immediate Care Remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline in a vase. Smash or slice the bottom of the woody stem with a knife or hammer to help the lilac take up water better (they’re known to wilt quickly if not treated).

5. Conditioning Place stems in lukewarm water immediately, and let them sit in a cool, dark place for a couple of hours before arranging. Change water daily to keep blooms fresh longer. Bonus Tip: Lilacs don’t last as long as some other cut flowers, but conditioning them properly can give you 3–5 days of fragrant beauty indoors.