Syringa vulgaris (Common Lilac)

The fragrance of common lilac is one of gardening's most recognizable pleasures: intensely sweet, slightly powdery, and unmistakable. Even Thomas Jefferson documented his affection for lilacs at Monticello, and it has been a fixture of American cottage gardens ever since. Blooms appear in dense, conical clusters in mid-to-late spring, covering the plant in color ranging from the classic violet-purple to deep magenta, pale lavender, white, and pink depending on the cultivar. The flower panicles are excellent for cutting and will fill a room within minutes of coming indoors.

Lilacs are deciduous shrubs that eventually develop into multi-stemmed specimens 8 to 15 feet tall and wide. They are long-lived plants. A well-placed lilac can outlast the gardener who planted it by generations. They need a period of winter cold for the buds to mature properly. On the immediate coast, results can be variable depending on how mild the winters run. Siting them in a location with good sun and airflow helps with powdery mildew, which lilacs are prone to when air circulation is poor.

Note that next season's flower buds form by midsummer, so prune only immediately after bloom.