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the characteristic plump, paired flower buds on the ends of the twigs which prevent most lilacs from being grown in warmer climates in the southern U.S. In fact, lilacs are extremely hardy with most growing well where winter temperatures dip to -30F and can even survive to -40F," he said.
• Best growing conditions
Lilacs grow best in a site that receives full sun exposure but they will also do well in part shade. They grow best in a soil with a near-neutral pH as long as it is not too wet. They will perform best if grown in a mulched bed, free from the competition of lawn grass. Supplemental irrigation during drought will also help them to grow and bloom more prolifically. Most plants will grow from 6 to 10-feet in height with a similar spread, thanks to the suckers which develop

around the base of the plant on most species except the Chinese lilac.
• Older plants will often benefit from regular (renewal) pruning, generally cutting down the tallest shoots to within a few inches of the ground right after they are done flowering. This will encourage new shoots to develop from the base that will generally begin flowering in 3-4 years. If this renewal pruning is practiced regularly, a lilac plant can be managed at a smaller size and also have flowers lower on the plant to enjoy and use for cutting.
• Graper says old, overgrown plants can be given a rejuvenation pruning where all the shoots are cut down to within a few inches of the ground.
• "This is a great way to reinvigorate an old ugly plant that has gotten too tall and may have lots of dead wood in it. It will take 3-4 years for the plant to begin blooming again," he said.
• Topping of the taller shoots, several feet above the ground is not recommended since often those topped shoots will die back or produce an overabundance of shoots several feet from the ground while the base of the plant is nearly bare. The

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