Lilac species: common lilac, Japanese tree lilac, Palibin lilac & more

Grown for their ornate and often fragrant flowers, lilacs are a favourite of many gardeners. Discover more about the different types of lilac trees you can grow in your garden.

With their panicles of flowers and attractive foliage, lilacs (Syringa) are a popular garden shrub and tree. We will go over some of the lilac types available, their differences and preferred growing conditions, so you can decide which one to grow.

Lilac species: what varieties are there?

Mainly native to parts of East Asia but also Southeast Europe, lilacs or Syringa, as they are often known, are now commonplace around the globe. Part of the Oleaceae family, lilacs were introduced as a garden plant in the 16^th century and have been cultivated ever since. With around 25 lilac species, there are plenty to choose from with flower types ranging from single to double and colours varying from white to pink and even purple. Most types of lilac trees tend to bloom from late spring until early summer and often omit a wonderful scent that makes the blooms a must-have as a cut flower.

Tip: lilacs can be planted at any time so long as the ground is not frozen. However, the best time for planting a lilac tree or shrub is in spring or autumn.

Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

Here in the UK, the most widely grown lilac species is the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris). This is the wild lilac species from which nearly all of today’s cultivars are descended. Common lilac is a deciduous shrub or tree that can grow to around 7m tall. Syringa vulgaris is a hardy species and is rated H6, which indicates that it can withstand harsh winters and temperatures as low as -15 to -20 °C as long as the soil is well-drained.

Forming dense panicles 8 to 20cm long, the flowers of Syringa vulgaris can range from white to dark purple. Best grown in full sun and with good drainage, the common lilac tree is happy in alkaline to neutral soil, including chalk. Here are some of our favourite common lilac types:

• Syringa vulgaris ‘Beauty of Moscow’: stunning white and pale pink double flowers. Strongly scented. Grows to around 3.5m tall. RHS ‘Award of Garden Merit’.
• Syringa vulgaris ‘Charles Joly’: dark mauve-red double blooms with a wonderful fragrance. Grows to around 3m tall. RHS ‘Award of Garden Merit’.
• Syringa vulgaris ‘Madame Lemoine’: pale yellow buds open to form delightfully scented double white flowers. Grows up to 3.5m tall. RHS ‘Award of Garden Merit’.
• Syringa vulgaris ‘Primrose’: unusually coloured pale cream-yellow flowers with a faint fragrance. Grows to around 3m tall.

Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata)

Better known as the Japanese lilac tree, Syringa reticulata develops into a large shrub or small tree up to around 6m tall. Flowering in early summer, the Japanese tree lilac produces large clusters up to 30cm long of small scented cream-white blooms, similar to those of the common elder (Sambucus nigra). Its copper-coloured bark brightens up dull winters. Thrives in full sun but can tolerate some light shade. The Japanese tree lilac prefers free-draining and fertile soil. However, it can also cope with poor soils and urban pollution. Rated H6 for hardiness.

• Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’: long-lasting clusters of scented white flowers. Introduced from Canada. Grows to around 5m tall.

Korean lilac (Syringa meyeri)

The deciduous Korean lilac (Syringa meyeri) is a compact and spreading lilac that is perfect for the middle of a border or large container. When grown in full sun, it develops a profusion of densely packed panicles of mauve-pink flowers around 8cm in length. Flowering from late spring onwards, it is a slow-growing shrub to around 1m tall and only requires minimal pruning. It prefers a fertile and moist yet free-draining soil that is neutral to alkaline. Rated H5, it can withstand temperatures down to -10 to -15 °C. Here are our favourite Korean lilac varieties:

• Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’: bushy lilac shrub that produces an array of light purple flowers that are strongly scented. Grows to around 1m tall. RHS ‘Award of Garden Merit’.
• Syringa meyeri ‘Flowerfesta Pink’: scented pink panicles that can repeat flower from late spring until autumn. Grows to around 1m tall.
• Syringa meyeri ‘Flowerfesta White’: pale pink to white flowers that can continue from late spring until autumn. Grows to around 1m tall.

Hungarian lilac (Syringa josikaea)

As the name suggests, the Hungarian lilac (Syringa josikaea) is a type of lilac that originates from Hungary as well as parts of Romania and the Ukraine. Reaching up to around 3.5m tall and wide, it develops lightly scented purple blooms up to 20cm long on arching branches. A very hardy lilac variety, Syringa josikaea is rated H7 and can tolerate temperatures below -20 °C. Like the other types of lilac trees previously mentioned, it prefers to grow on a fertile and well-drained soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline. Although it can cope with some partial shade, the flowers bloom best when grown in full sun.

Nodding lilac (Syringa komarowii subsp. reflexa)

Native to Central China, nodding lilac (Syringa komarowii subsp. reflexa) is a large lilac species that can grow up to 6m tall. It develops pink-mauve panicles up to 25cm long that hang down. Favouring a free-draining soil in full sun, the nodding lilac flowers around June and is perhaps the hardiest of all lilac species with reports of it withstanding temperatures down to -40 °C.

Along with the right growing conditions, most types of lilac trees require regular pruning to maintain their health and vigour. You can learn more about pruning lilacs in our separate article here.