Lilac, with a mild and intoxicating fragrance is very refreshing and it typically announces the arrival of spring by spreading its first bloom. It has around 20 different species and belongs to the olive family. The regular colours of the four-petalled flowers are purple, pink and white but with the passing of days more and more varieties can be found in their colour, habit, bloom size, shape, and flowering time by means of hybridization. The flowers bloom in clusters. Lilac plant can be a shrub or a bush which is deciduous in nature. It bears simple, heart-shaped, alternate and feathery leaves.

The plant is found widely all through the temperate area like Europe and Asia. They are most commonly seen to be grown in parks and gardens. Lilacs thrive on old wood and produce more flowers if they are left unpruned. Apart from a large number of variety, numerous hybrids of the flower can be found which has given rise to the variety of double flowers.

The larvae of some Lepidoptera species like Copper Underwing, Scalloped Oak and Svensson’s Copper Underwings thrive on the plant as a source of food. The showy flowers adorn the gardens and are popularly used as cut flowers. Lilac is mainly noted for it enchanting fragrance which is used in perfumes and soaps.