If you want to add beauty to your outdoor landscape, planting a lilac tree in your yard is a terrific option. This hardy foliage is an attractive and fragrant floral piece that attracts pollinators, such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, and provides a safe habitat for wildlife. 

Lilac trees and bushes belong to the olive family and are relatively low-maintenance trees once established. In addition, they are not poisonous to dogs or children. Now we will dive deeper into the lilac tree attributes, ideal habitat, and how to help your lilac thrive.

What Does a Lilac Tree Look Like?

Lilac trees are a common element in many areas. Numerous lilac trees can contain single or multi stems that can grow together to form a single trunk. They sport brownish-gray stems and branches that offer dark green foliage throughout the growing season. 

These come in various sizes, and spring brings clusters of multiple flowers. There are officially seven different colors of lilacs, including: 

• White
• Pink
• Lavender
• Violet 
• Magenta
• Blue
• Purple 

Do Lilacs Bloom Twice?

Generally, lilacs will only bloom in the early to late spring, producing their fragrant blossoms for up to six weeks. However, if you wish you could enjoy them more often, you can choose Bloomerang or Josee lilacs to include in your yard. 

These two varieties will produce beautiful, sweet-smelling flowers twice a year rather than other lilacs’ standard spring blossoms. Flowering in the spring and fall makes these lilac tree choices perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy flowers more often. 

What Month Do Lilacs Bloom?

Location is a factor when looking at the blooming month for lilacs. You can expect lilacs to bloom between April and June. Cooler weather may allow blooms to last longer.

How Tall Do Lilac Trees Get?

Before planting one of these in your yard, knowing the lilac tree height will ensure that you choose the best spot. Depending on the variety you choose, your lilac can reach four feet tall or extend to 25 or 30 feet. 

A dwarf lilac tree will naturally remain smaller, only growing between four to six feet at maturity. However, a Japanese tree lilac will provide an impressive span of 30 feet tall. 

Is There a Difference Between a Lilac Bush and a Lilac Tree?

There are different types of lilac trees. When it comes to lilac varieties, the terms bush and tree will refer to the type of lilac or its growth pattern. Tree varieties will have a single trunk stem or sport multiple stems that grow together to form an upright trunk. 

Lilac bushes will have numerous stems growing outward from the base of the plant. These varieties will also have yearly suckers (also known as runners) that encourage growth as they grow from the root system and help the bush propagate and spread. 

However, you can train a lilac bush to grow into a tree if there is enough care and effort. Proper pruning of lower branches is critical to prevent growth. Continuous maintenance is necessary for the stems to meld into an upright trunk. 

Where Is the Best Place to Plant a Lilac Tree?

A new lilac tree can bring beauty and wonder to your outdoor living space. These fragrant trees are suitable as a focal point in a garden or as part of a border along a property line. 

Lilacs prefer a spot with full sunlight and well-drained soil that is slightly alkaline. As a result, they are drought-resistant and will only require additional watering when the climate is drier than average. 

These trees thrive well in climate zones 3 to 8, making them ideal for many locations throughout North America and some Southeastern areas in Europe. 

How Long Does It Take for a Lilac Tree To Mature?

Lilac trees will grow between six and 12 inches per year, depending on their environment. Once it establishes, it could take three to five years before you see any blossoms on its branches. 

A typical lilac tree with proper care and maintenance will mature between three and four years after planting. So, if your lilac receives the right growing conditions, it can live up to an impressive 100 years.  

How Do You Take Care of a Lilac Tree?

You do not have to worry about continuous or tedious maintenance with lilac tree care. Lilacs are relatively easy to sustain when they receive between six and eight hours of full sunlight and have well-drained soil. 

Although they are resistant to drought conditions, if your climate is unseasonably dry, be sure to water your lilac tree once per week. Your lilac will benefit from fertilization in the spring months as it enters its growing season. 

Lilac tree pruning should happen once the blooms dry up to trim back any dead stems or branches that will not bloom next season. 

Do Lilac Trees Lose Their Leaves?

Lilacs are deciduous trees. Because of this, you can expect leaves to fall off your tree after the weather turns.

Conclusion 

Adding a lilac tree to your outdoor landscape is a terrific low-maintenance choice for yards of any shape. They are available in many colors and sizes. Lilacs can be a beautiful focal point or act as a privacy screen along your property line.