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Lilacs are a popular flowering shrub throughout Minnesota, with a color palette of pink, white and all shades of purple. As one of the first blossoms of the year, they are a true sign of spring's arrival. This diverse, hardy group is well adapted and can thrive in our harsh, northern climate. They are a pleasantly-fragrant plant, loved not only by people, but hummingbirds and butterflies, as well. A bouquet of lilacs makes a beautiful centerpiece for the table.

Lilacs require full sun in order to proliferate into an abundance of blossoms. Flowers may not reach their full potential in an area with less than a half-day of sun. Lilacs also do best in well-drained soil. They are not heavy feeders; fertilizer is not necessary to produce flowers. If fertilized with too much Nitrogen, as often the case with lawn fertilizer nearby, the shrub will make a lot of leafy, vegetative growth. This will come at the expense of flower buds and color.

If a lilac shrub is pruned, do so right after the flowers fade in spring. Next year's buds are set shortly after the plant is finished blooming. Therefore, don't wait until summer, or there may not be flowers the following year. Lilacs are a low-maintenance shrub. They don't require much pruning, watering or care in order to dazzle the landscape. If pruned drastically, it may take several years before the lilacs begin to bloom. At the very least, one may remove the brown seed clusters, as they can be unsightly. Some people appreciate the seed pods for winter interest. It might prove beneficial to remove spent flowers from young, newly-transplanted lilacs.

Lilacs may not have an extremely-fast growth rate, but they fill out nicely when planted in the right location with plenty of room for years of enjoyment.

The most well-known lilac, the "Common Lilac" or "French Hybrid Lilac" grows to a height of approximately twelve feet. This group has the showiest of flowers of any lilac hybrid. These magnificent shrubs bloom in spring with sweetly-scented flowers.

"Chinese Lilacs" are a compact shrub with a growth height of seven to twelve feet. This is a non-suckering lilac, useful for informal hedges. The dark, green leaves are smaller than those of the common lilac.

"Dward Korean Lilac" blooms a couple of weeks later than the common lilac. The abundant flowers are small and the leaves are round and dark green. This plant grows between four and five feet high, and makes an excellent, low-growing hedge. They look nice and compact in rows. "Late Lilac" grows to ten feet. Flowers are pale purple, but can be white. Flowers open after the common lilac has finished blooming. "Tinkerbelle Lilac" has red buds that open to spicy-scented pink flowers that bloom in early summer. "Canadian Hybrid Lilacs" are extremely hardy and bloom in June, thereby extending the lilac season. These hybrids come in various shades of purple, pink and white.

One common, but seemingly harmless other than cosmetic, disease among lilacs is powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease and appears as though the leaves have been sprinkled with baby powder. It typically occurs in times of high humidity and cooler temperatures. The best way to prevent or treat powdery mildew is to increase ventilation. Be sure that the lilac is planted where it will receive plenty of sun and adequate space to flourish. Powdery mildew seldom warrants chemical control in the home landscape.

There is a plethora of lilacs at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen, where there are over one hundred lilacs in the collection. The best time to admire their beauty is the end of May.

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