Types of Lilac Trees
The proper name for the common lilac is Syringa vulgaris. It is a member of the Olive (Oleaceae) family. Other familiar members include olives (Olea europaea), ash trees (Fraxinus), jasmine shrubs and vines, forsythia and privets.
What is a Dwarf Lilac? Space challenged gardeners, or those that prefer a tidy looking plant, will love the dwarf lilac varieties. These smaller bushes offer all the same color and scent the standard forms present with a more compact form. Dwarf lilacs are fairly new developments with the Korean dwarf one of the first to be marketed.
Persian Lilac. Persian lilacs (Syringa x persica) are smaller than common lilacs (S. vulgaris) and generally achieve a maximum size of 8 feet tall and wide. The single flowers are pale in color and richly fragrant. The 3-inch-long flower clusters are smaller by about half compared to those of common lilacs.