Ruqayyah Snyder
Lilacs are a beautiful plant to grow, with colourful flowers and a divine fragrance. They are a popular choice for Australian gardens, as they are fuss-free and grow well without extreme temperatures. This guide will take you through the steps to grow lilacs in Australia, including choosing the right variety, preparing the soil, and maintaining the plant for healthy growth. With the right care, you can expect to see these fragrant flowers blooming in your garden.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height | 2-4 metres tall, although some can grow up to 7 metres |
| Sunlight | Full sun or light shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy, moist, enriched with organic matter, with added fertiliser |
| Climate | Cool to mild |
| Watering | Once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions |
| Fertiliser | Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, lime/dolomite |
| Pests and disease | Generally pest and disease-resistant, but younger lilacs may be attacked by slugs or snails |
| Flowering season | Spring, with some varieties blooming in summer |
| Fragrance | Sweet in the morning, growing stronger as the day warms |
| Colours | White, mauve, pink, purple, lilac |
| Spacing | Smaller dwarf lilacs: 1-2 metres apart; larger varieties: 4-5 metres apart |
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What You'll Learn
Soil preparation and fertilisation
Lilacs prefer a moist, yet free-draining soil that has been enriched with organic matter. Before planting, prepare the soil by mixing through a soil improver. Lilacs do not do well in clay soil, so if your backyard is full of clay, you'll need to treat it with gypsum. Lilacs also prefer alkaline soil, so if your soil is acidic, add lime or dolomite to increase the pH. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root ball.
If growing in pots, choose a pot at least 50-60cm wide and deep and fill it with a quality potting mix. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots, and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Position in the hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water it well.
Lilacs only need to be fertilised annually, in late winter, to keep them happy. You can use a controlled-release fertiliser for this. Reapply a layer of compost and mulch around the plant's drip zone each spring to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. If you live in an area without much summer rainfall, your lilac will need regular watering during dry times.
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Choosing a variety and planting
Lilacs come in a variety of colours, including white, mauve, pink, lilac, and purple shades. Lilac flowers typically bloom in spring, and some varieties bloom again in summer. The fragrance of lilac flowers intensifies as the day gets warmer. Lilacs are generally pest and disease-resistant and easy to grow.
When choosing a variety, it is important to consider the size of the plant and the colour of the flowers. The common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, is a popular choice due to its heavy fragrance and colour options. It can grow up to 7 metres tall. Other popular species include the Syringa meyeri, or Korean Dwarf lilac, which grows to just over one metre, and the Syringa persica, or Persian lilac, which is a hybrid plant that is smaller than the common lilac. If you want your lilacs to bloom more than once a year, consider a newer variety such as the Bloomerang lilac.
Before planting, you should prepare the soil by mixing through a soil improver and fertiliser. Lilacs prefer a moist, well-drained soil with a pH of around 6.5. They grow best in a cool to mild climate with full sun or light shade. If your soil is acidic, add lime or dolomite to increase the pH.
When planting, choose a spot that gets plenty of sun (at least six hours a day is recommended). Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth. Remove the shrub from its container and gently tease the roots, cutting away any circled or tangled roots. Position the plant in the hole and backfill with soil, gently firming it down. Water it well.
If you are planting in a pot, choose a pot that is at least 50-60cm wide and deep. Position it in full sun or light shade and fill it with a quality potting mix. Follow the same steps for planting as above. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on the weather conditions.
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Sunlight and temperature
Lilacs grow in full sun to part shade, with a preference for at least six hours of sun per day. They will grow in spots with less sun but may not bloom as well. The sun's light and heat help intensify the aroma of lilac flowers. Lilacs grow well in cool to mild climates and do not thrive in extreme temperatures. They are not suitable for growing indoors as they are larger bushes that prefer cooler temperatures.
In terms of temperature, lilacs are quite adaptable and can be grown in various climates without experiencing extreme heat or cold. However, they do require a certain amount of winter chilling to thrive. For example, in Tasmania, lilacs do not get sufficient winter chilling until late August, which is rather late in the season for planting lilacs in the northern hemisphere.
The presence of apple trees in an area is a good indicator that the region experiences enough winter chilling for lilac cultivation. For regions with marginally suitable climates and lower winter chilling, growers suggest trying S. protolaciniata or its hybrids, x chinensis.
Lilacs are typically planted in the spring, but this can vary depending on the region and specific variety of lilac. Some lilacs may bloom in the summer, producing flowers with a strong fragrance that intensifies as the day warms up.
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Watering and drainage
Lilacs prefer moist, well-drained soil. If you're planting in heavy or clay soil, add gypsum to improve the structure and drainage. Mix in the gypsum well. Lilacs will not tolerate frequent waterlogging, so ensure the soil drains freely.
When planting, dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth. Before placing the plant in the hole, gently remove it from its container and tease the roots. Cut away any circled or tangled roots. Backfill the hole with soil and gently firm it down. Water the plant well.
Water your lilacs deeply, once or twice a week, depending on the weather conditions. If you live in an area with little summer rainfall, your lilacs will need regular watering during dry periods.
Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Keep the mulch away from the main stem. Reapply mulch and compost each spring to help retain moisture.
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Pests and diseases
Lilacs are very hardy and generally resistant to pests and diseases, especially once they are established. However, younger lilac plants and new plantings may be attacked by slugs or snails. If this happens, you can set beer traps (shallow saucers filled with beer) at the base of the plant or sprinkle Defender Slug and Snail Pellets around it.
Another potential issue is powdery mildew, a disease that affects many types of plants, including lilacs. While it can slow down the growth of lilacs and even be deadly to other plants, it will not kill them. To treat powdery mildew, cut away the infected foliage to prevent the infection from spreading, then use a fungal spray.
In addition, over-fertilisation can prevent lilacs from blooming. Other issues that may cause this include a lack of sunlight or poor soil conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Lilacs grow best in full sun, with well-drained, alkaline soil. They prefer a cool to mild climate and can be grown in containers or in the ground.
Mix through a soil improver such as Scotts Osmocote Compost Premium Soil Improver and add dolomite lime if your soil is acidic. Lilacs also benefit from fertiliser, applied in late autumn or early winter.
Water your lilacs deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions. If you live in an area without much summer rainfall, your lilacs will need regular watering during dry spells.
