Lilacs are one of spring's shortest-lived pleasures. For just a few weeks each year, their blooms appear in soft shades of lavender, mauve and ivory, filling gardens and arboretums with a scent that feels instantly nostalgic.
"I have an old lilac tree in my garden and I always look forward to it blooming," says Country Living's gardening editor Sharon Amos. "It becomes covered in these beautiful clouds of flowers and the scent drifting through the garden is heavenly."
The trouble is, they never last for long. Blink and the petals begin to fall; wait another week and the fragrance has already drifted away, which is precisely why now is the time to see them.
"Lilacs don't linger, but that's part of their charm," says Sharon. "A spell of warm weather can bring them out – and hurry them through – surprisingly quickly, so if you want to see them at their best, now’s the time to go."
So without further ado, here are some of the loveliest places in the UK to enjoy these pretty flowers. Get, set, go!
1. Withdean Park, East Sussex
Home to the National Collection of Lilacs, Withdean Park in Brighton holds more than 250 varieties and is widely considered one of the finest collections in Europe. In May, the park fills with clouds of mauve, lilac and white blooms, with fragrance drifting across the hillside long before the flowers come into view.
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2. Forde Abbey and Gardens, Dorset
The lilacs at Forde Abbey spill through borders and old stone walls in relaxed country-house style. Mature planting and wide herbaceous borders make this one of the loveliest spring gardens in the south west.
3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London
At Kew, lilacs are woven through the wider spring garden among magnolias, camassias and flowering trees. Expect heritage varieties, soft colour combinations and plenty of scent on warm afternoons.
4. RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey
Wisley is one of the most reliable places in the country to see lilacs at their best. The shrub borders and woodland edges are especially beautiful in early May, when lilacs flower among late tulips and fresh spring greens.
5. Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey
The woodland setting at Winkworth gives lilacs a softer, more natural feel than many formal gardens. In spring, bursts of mauve emerge among fresh green foliage and winding paths.
6. Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent
Lilacs work perfectly against Sissinghurst's brick walls and cottage planting, bringing colour and scent to the garden rooms in late spring.
7. Castle Howard, North Yorkshire
Castle Howard’s lilacs soften the grandeur of the estate, flowering among vast lawns, old trees and one of Yorkshire's most dramatic country houses.
8. Hidcote Manor Garden, Gloucestershire
Hidcote's Arts and Crafts structure provides a striking backdrop for lilacs, with blooms spilling between clipped hedges, stone paths and enclosed garden rooms.
9. Pentillie Castle, Cornwall
At Pentillie Castle, mature lilacs flower through the spring gardens overlooking the River Tamar. Their mauve blooms sit beautifully against the estate's woodland setting and sweeping Cornish views.
10. Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Cambridgeshire
Lilacs appear throughout the scented planting at Cambridge University Botanic Garden, where heritage shrubs bloom alongside late-spring borders and flowering trees.
11. Wakehurst, West Sussex
At Wakehurst, lilacs appear among wider spring collections, bringing colour and fragrance to the landscape as woodland planting bursts into life.
12. Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park, Berkshire
Part of Windsor Great Park, Savill Garden is known for its extensive spring displays, where lilacs appear among magnolias, rhododendrons and flowering trees. In May, the scent carries beautifully through the ornamental shrub borders.
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