# Lilac (*Lilac Mill.*)

Lilacs are sweet-smelling flowers that bloom in spring. They are often purple and are loved by many for their fragrance!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Lilacs enjoy sunny spots and are often seen in backyards and gardens.
- **Also known as:** Syringa

![Lilac](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424286/objects/4933.jpg)

## Appearance

The Lilac is a woody shrub or small tree with heart-shaped green leaves. It has large, conical clusters of small, intensely fragrant flowers, often purple, but also found in white, pink, and magenta hues.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Family:** Oleaceae
- **Genus:** Syringa

## Interesting facts

- Different colored lilacs historically symbolize different emotions!
- Lilac flowers are edible and can be used to make delicious jelly!
- Some lilac bushes can live for over 100 years, growing very tall!
- The name 'Lilac' comes from a Persian word meaning 'blue'!

## Special abilities

- **Scent Beacon:** Lilac has a powerful sweet fragrance that helps it attract pollinators like bees and butterflies from a distance.
- **Clustered Blooms:** Lilac has numerous small flowers clustered together, making it easier for pollinators to visit many at once.
- **Winter Warrior:** Lilac can withstand very cold winters thanks to its woody stems, helping it survive and re-emerge each spring.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 200-700 cm
- **Spread:** 150-500 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** Small White butterfly (*Pieris rapae*) — Feeds on nectar, helping pollination.
- **Eaten by:** Lilac Borer (*Podosesia syringae*) — Larvae bore into woody stems, causing damage.
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on leaves and young shoots.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Lilac?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Lilac?

200-700 cm

### How wide does Lilac spread?

150-500 cm

### How big are the flowers on Lilac?

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does Lilac bloom?

Spring to early summer

### Is Lilac edible?

Yes

### Is Lilac toxic?

None

### What is Lilac's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Langford Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/langford-lake-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park
- [Bear Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-lake-state-park) — Utah, US · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Lilac: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lilac)