I have a lilac shrub that is about six or seven years old and blooms every other year. This seems very odd to me. Most lilacs bloom every year. Is blooming every other year normal? It is planted in optimal conditions and looks very healthy.
Quoted directly from Lilacs for the Garden, by J. Bennett (2002, p. 99): “Some lilacs, especially cultivars of the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) bloom better, or only, in alternate years. Pruning the plant soon after it does bloom may encourage flowers the next year.”
University of Nebraska Extension says that “removing the seed capsules soon after flowering has been reported to alter the every-other-year flowering cycle in some lilacs. This is because less energy goes into the current year’s seed production and more into the next year’s flower production. Some researchers agree with this recommendation and some do not. Removing seed capsules also improves the plant’s appearance.”
I could not find a list of which cultivars do this. You might consult the International Lilac Society to see if a list exists.
Another resource is the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens (in Woodland, WA about 30 minutes north of Portland).