I have lilac in sandy soil down by a river and I also have lilac in Chevy Chase MD. It needs sun and leans toward the sun if it is in part shade. Ours is probably just a common lilac because it was growing on the property before we owned it. It was in too much shade and always had powdery mildew so we moved it, divided it, have passed some on to others. If you have woodland, it would have to be on the sunny border side.