Lilac Names

Name Origin

• The lilac gets its name from the Persian word "lilaq" which, according to the Highland Park Conservancy, means "flower." Also known as the "queen of shrubs," more lilacs have flowers that bloom in a shade of purple than any other color, which might also have contributed to the rise of the plant's name. Other old-fashioned names for lilacs include "Prince's feather," which likely refers to the long, nodding panicles of flowers, and "blewe pipe trees."

Shrub Forms

• Syringa vulgaris is the most commonly grown lilac, and in fact, it is often simply called the common lilac. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3b through 7, this lilac grows to heights of about 15 feet, and maximum widths of about 12 feet. Popular cultivars include "Sensation," which has purple flowers edged in white, and "Wedgwood Blue," which has lavender-blue flowers. The meyer lilac (Syringa meyeri) is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 7 and is wider than it is tall. "Pablin" is the most popular cultivar of the meyer lilac, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Like the species plant, it grows best in USDA zones 3 through 7. "Pablin" features light pink flowers and reaches maximum heights and widths of 5 and 7 feet respectively.

Tree Forms

• The Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) is usually grown on one leader and is sometimes classified as a small tree rather than a shrub. Hardy in USDA zones 3 through 7, this lilac, which features creamy-white flowers, reaches maximum heights of around 30 feet, with widths of around 20 feet. The panicles can reach 12 inches in length. "Pekinensis" is a cultivar sometimes called the Chinese tree lilac. It is similar in appearance to the Japanese tree lilac, but smaller in stature with maximum heights and widths of 20 and 15 feet. "Pekinensis" thrives in USDA zones 3 through 7. "Amurensis," or the Amur lilac, was originally thought to be a species but was later classified as a subspecies of Syringa reticulata. It has the same white flower panicles as the species only grows to maximum heights and widths of 8 and 6 feet respectively. Like the other cultivars, "Amurensis" thrives in USDA zones 3 through 7.

Hyrbidized Lilacs

• Syringa "Betsy Ross" is a large, showy white lilac specifically developed to tolerate warmer temperatures. This lilac is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8 and was the first hybridized lilac to be released by the U.S. National Arboretum. "Betsy Ross" grows to maximum heights and widths of about 10 and 13 feet respectively. The Persian lilac (Syringa x persica) is a hybrid desirable for its very sweet-smelling, light purple flowers that bloom profusely in late spring. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 7 and grows to maximum heights and widths of about 8 and 10 feet respectively.