The Space-Saving Lilac Variety With Pretty Purple Flowers Perfect For Small Gardens

Toward the middle to the end of spring the unmistakable scent of lilacs begins to fill the air. A staple of cottage gardens, they have an aura of nostalgia with a sweet scent touched with subtle hints of honey and jasmine. It's no wonder they are a favorite of flower gardeners wanting to add a touch of vintage charm to their yard. But sadly, for those who have a smaller space, adding a full-size lilac bush just isn't ideal. Thankfully, there is a lilac variety that gives you all the charm and scent of a full-size lilac but in a smaller package: the palibin lilac tree (Syringa meyeri 'Palibin').

The palibin lilac tree is a beautiful dwarf Korean lilac cultivar perfectly suited for small space gardens. You could also easily grow this lilac variety in a container on a patio. At full maturity it reaches about 4 to 5 feet tall and 5 to 7 feet in width. This compact lilac has the typical trumpet-shaped pinkish-purple blooms you would expect to see on a lilac shrub. The palibin lilac is tolerant to the mild pollution of urban gardens, cold hardy, and resistant to powdery mildew. You can add this dwarf Korean lilac to your small-space garden if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 7.

There are a few things you should know before planting your lilacs to have success with this dwarf variety. One of the biggest mistakes people make when growing lilacs is placing them in the wrong location. Lilacs do best in full sun, and the palibin lilac is no different. Other than the desire to feel the sun on their leaves, these lilacs aren't too picky when it comes to soil type. In fact, they are extremely tolerant of less-than-ideal soil conditions and as long as your soil is well-draining, the palibin lilac should thrive. This lilac doesn't need a lot of water, unless you experience a dry spell, then just water the soil at the base until it is moist down to 3 inches. To ensure continued flowering, cut out flowers after they are spent. To give it an added boost, mulch around the base of your plant.

For a full lilac experience, one palibin is enough for a small space. As mentioned, they are perfectly happy planted in a container as the crowning piece of a backyard escape or on a patio border as an anchoring shrub. Pair them with some white or cream perennials, spring bulbs, or ornamental grasses for a lovely, cottage-inspired landscape. Not only do they smell and look lovely wherever they're planted, but they also attract many types of pollinators. Another added benefit of the palibin lilac is they are also deer resistant, so you won't wake up one morning and discover its lovely blooms have been munched on.