With so many to choose from, it's hard to pick just one lilac. In This Article Learn about different types of lilacs, plus design, care and culture. You may have heard some cultivars of this plant called French lilacs. Common lilacs can reach 15 feet tall and wide, but with pruning, you can keep them at 8 feet. Their fragrant blooms appear in midspring.
Cultivars can be double or single and have a wide range of colors.
Most lilacs can't take the heat in zones warmer than 7. But in zones 8 and 9, 'Angel White' and 'Blue Skies' grow well, especially in a spot with some afternoon shade. Hyacinthifloras bloom a week or two before common lilacs and are more powdery-mildew resistant. They're hardy in zones 3 to 8. Eventually, they can grow 10 to 12 feet tall and wide.