Q: I’m trying to find a heat-hardy lilac for my New York state friend who lives in Forsyth County.

A: The key element that lilacs lack in the South is chilling hours during the winter. Most lilacs require over two thousand hours of temperatures below 45 degrees F. in order to bloom. The solution is to find lilac selections that do not need so much cold weather. Ask local nurseries if they can find for you ‘Lavender Lady’, ‘Blue Boy’, ‘Dark Knight’, ‘Miss Kim’, ‘Betsy Ross’ or ‘White Angel’ (‘Angel White’) lilac. Lilacs need a neutral soil pH, close to 7.0. You will probably need to add lime at planting. Call your local Extension office (1-800-ASKUGA1)) and ask them how you should bring in soil for a soil test.