The Best Companion Plants for Lilacs—And What NOT to Plant With Them
Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) are beloved for their fragrant, cone-shaped blooms that grace gardens in late spring. With the right companions, you can extend your garden’s color, attract beneficial pollinators, and create a beautifully layered landscape that remains vibrant well after the lilacs have faded.
Below, we highlight excellent companion plants for lilacs.
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Lilac Growing Conditions
Lilacs thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3–7, making them an excellent choice for gardeners in temperate climates. They require full sun—at least six hours of direct sunlight per day—to bloom to their fullest potential. Lilacs prefer well-draining, slightly alkaline soil and benefit from occasional deep watering, especially during dry spells.
While they are relatively low-maintenance once established, they do require annual pruning after flowering to maintain their shape and encourage more blooms the following year.
1. Peonies
Peonies
Peonies are a perfect match for lilacs, as they both bloom in late spring and share a love for full sun and well-drained soil. The lush, ruffled blooms of peonies provide a romantic contrast to lilacs' upright, clustered flowers. Their fragrance complements lilacs beautifully, creating an enchanting sensory experience in the garden. Peonies also have deep, sturdy roots that do not compete aggressively with lilacs, making them an excellent choice for planting nearby.
RELATED: Peony Fertilizer 101: The Ultimate Guide to Fertilizing Peonies
2. Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint
Catmint is a fantastic companion for lilacs because it continues to bloom long after the lilacs fade, providing ongoing color and attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. Its soft, lavender-blue flowers and mounded growth habit create a lovely contrast to the larger, more structured lilac shrubs. Additionally, catmint is drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun, making it an easy-care addition to your lilac garden.
3. Hostas
Hostas
Hostas make excellent underplantings for lilacs, as they thrive in the partial shade created by the shrub’s canopy. While lilacs bask in the sun above, hostas fill in the space below with their large, attractive leaves, adding texture and color variation to the garden. Since hostas are primarily grown for their foliage, they provide beauty even when lilacs are not in bloom. They also help retain soil moisture around the base of lilacs and suppress weeds.
RELATED: Hostas Landscaping: The Easiest Way to Create a Stunning Shade Garden
4. Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
Daylilies
Daylilies are another easy-care perennial that pairs well with lilacs. Since they bloom in early to midsummer, they take over the garden show once lilacs finish flowering. Available in a wide variety of colors, daylilies can complement or contrast with your lilac flowers, depending on your preferred garden palette. Their grassy foliage adds a soft texture that contrasts well with the woody stems of lilacs, creating a balanced and visually interesting landscape.
5. Spring Bulbs (Tulips, Daffodils)
Daffodils
Spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils provide early-season color before lilacs bloom, creating a seamless transition from winter to spring. Daffodils, in particular, serve an additional purpose by deterring deer and rodents, which might otherwise nibble on young lilac shoots. Since bulbs die back by early summer, they do not compete for space or nutrients with lilacs, making them an ideal seasonal companion.
6. Mock Orange (Philadelphus)
Mock Orange (Philadelphus)
Mock orange is a fragrant shrub that complements lilacs both in appearance and scent. Its citrus-scented white flowers bloom just as lilacs are finishing, ensuring a continuous display of fragrant blossoms in your garden. Like lilacs, mock orange thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making them easy to grow together. Planting mock orange nearby allows you to extend the garden's visual and aromatic appeal into early summer.
7. Roses
Roses
Roses and lilacs are a classic garden pairing, both known for their stunning blooms and intoxicating scents. Roses come in a wide variety of colors and forms, making it easy to find a variety that complements your lilacs. Since most roses bloom throughout the summer, they keep the garden lively long after lilacs have finished flowering. Both plants require full sun and benefit from good air circulation, making them well-suited to be planted in the same area.
8. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Butterfly bush
Butterfly bush is a fantastic addition to a lilac garden because it attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees, promoting a pollinator-friendly landscape. This shrub blooms from summer into early fall, ensuring that your garden remains colorful after lilacs fade. Its long, arching flower spikes offer a similar but distinct floral structure, complementing lilacs’ clustered blossoms while providing variety in height and texture.
RELATED: Named the Best Picks for Full Sun Perennials: A Gardener’s Must-Have List
9. Spirea
Spirea
Spirea is a low-maintenance, deciduous shrub that pairs well with lilacs due to its staggered bloom time and colorful foliage. Depending on the variety, spirea blooms from late spring through summer, offering a long-lasting floral display that follows lilacs. Some varieties also develop vibrant fall foliage, providing interest well beyond the growing season. Spirea thrives in full sun and is highly adaptable, making it a reliable and easygoing garden companion.
10. Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is a drought-tolerant perennial that provides visual interest late into the season. This succulent-like plant produces large clusters of pink flowers in late summer and fall, bringing life back to the garden long after lilacs have bloomed. Since sedum requires minimal water and thrives in full sun, it is a perfect choice for adding color to a lilac garden without requiring extra maintenance. Additionally, its flowers attract bees and butterflies, supporting local pollinators.
11. Creeping Phlox
Creeping Phlox
Creeping phlox forms a colorful, low-growing carpet of flowers in early spring, adding interest to garden beds before lilacs begin to bloom. Available in shades of purple, pink, white, and blue, creeping phlox complements lilacs’ pastel tones beautifully. This groundcover helps suppress weeds and retains soil moisture, making it a practical and visually appealing companion for lilacs.
Plants You Should NOT Plant With Lilacs
While lilacs are relatively easygoing, some plants can compete with them for resources or create an unbalanced garden. Avoid planting these near lilacs:
Heavy Feeders Like Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas require rich, consistently moist soil, while lilacs prefer drier, well-drained conditions. Since hydrangeas need acidic to neutral soil, and lilacs thrive in slightly alkaline soil, they are not ideal companions.
Large, Dense Evergreens (Like Arborvitae or Spruce)
Evergreens such as arborvitae and spruce can shade out lilacs, preventing them from receiving the full sun they need to bloom. Additionally, these trees’ dense root systems can compete for water and nutrients, stunting lilac growth.
Aggressive Groundcovers (Like English Ivy or Vinca Vine)
Fast-spreading groundcovers such as English ivy, vinca vine, or bishop’s weed can quickly overtake the base of lilacs, leading to reduced air circulation and increased risk of fungal diseases. Instead, opt for clumping perennials like hostas or creeping phlox that won’t overwhelm the root zone.
Tall Ornamental Grasses
While some smaller grasses can work near lilacs, large ornamental grasses can create too much root competition. Their dense growth can also block airflow, increasing the chances of powdery mildew—a common lilac issue.
Moisture-Loving Plants (Like Ferns or Astilbe)
Ferns and astilbe require constant moisture and shade, making them a poor fit for sun-loving, drought-tolerant lilacs. Instead, plant them in shadier areas of your garden, away from lilac shrubs.
Deeply Rooted Trees (Like Black Walnut or Maple)
Trees with large, invasive root systems can compete with lilacs for water and nutrients. Black walnut, in particular, produces juglone, a chemical that can be toxic to lilacs and other plants.
Creating the Perfect Lilac Garden
To make the most of your lilacs, choose companion plants that complement their growing conditions and extend color throughout the season.
By thoughtfully pairing lilacs with these complementary plants, you’ll create a diverse, low-maintenance, and visually appealing landscape that will reward you with color, fragrance, and pollinators season after season. These companions will help you make the most of your lilac shrubs.
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