Old-Fashioned Lilac Jumbo Hedge

There's something special about the way spring-flowering shrubs like this one, which is also called the common lilac, add color and fragrance to gardens and yards. It grows anywhere from 8 to 15 feet tall with a spread of 6 to 12 feet. When in blooms during mid to late spring, its lilac-purple flower panicles don't just sweeten the air but also draw butterflies and hummingbirds to the landscape. The panicles of this beloved shrub are wonderful for cutting and bringing indoors to use in fresh flower arrangements. Plant it in small groups to create a flowering hedge, a shrub border or a privacy screen. Deer tend to avoid this favourite of Northern growers. While it requires little maintenance, it needs to be planted in well-drained soil where the shrub can get good air circulation. Zones 3–7.