Habitat

• native to the northern China and northern Japan
• zone 4, probably warmer parts of 3

Habit and Form

• a deciduous shrub
• multistemmed
• rounded, broad shape
• dense and twiggy, but clean and not ratty
• 4' to 8' tall
• 6' to 12' wide

Summer Foliage

• opposite, simple leaves
• elliptic to ovate shape
• 0.75" to 1.75" long
• newly emerged folaige has a reddish rim
• foliage matures to dark green

Autumn Foliage

• no fall color develops
• leaves drop a yellow-green

Flowers

• numerous clusters of small tubular flowers; a heavy bloomer
• flower color is pink to pale purple
• flowers strongly fragrant
• flwer panicles are 4" long by about 2.5" wide
• bloom time is May
• very effective in bloom
• blooms at a very young age

Fruit

• a small capsule
• held in panicles

Bark

• stems are gray-brown
• shoots have prominent lenticels
• not ornamentally important

Culture

• easy to grow
• adaptable
• full sun to light shade
• does not get mildew or other problems that plaque other Syringa sp.

Landscape Use

• probably the nicest of all lilacs
• for bloom
• for fragrance
• useful because of its small size
• foundation plant
• shrub border
• groupings and mass plantings
• specimen

Liabilities

• not many things to knock this plant for
• flower buds emerge early and can get hit by a late frost

ID Features

• small leaves in an opposite arrangement
• dense, fine-twigged shrub
• nultistemmed and wider than tall
• numerous, fragrant pink to pale purple flowers
• shoots with prominent lenticels

Propagation

• by cuttings, but difficult
• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

'Palibin' (also listed as 'Palibiniana') - The most common form, this unique lilac is very useful for small gardens. The plant forms a compact, rounded mound of dense branches to 5' tall and wider. The small panicles of light pink, fragrant flowers are abundantly presented all along the stems. It is a satisfying plant that remains in scale in contemporary gardens. The plant is often grafted to a standard to form a somewhat awkward small tree.

'Bailbelle' (Tinkerbelle™) - This new introduction is a hybrid selection that assumes an upright-rounded habit to 6' tall and wide. The deep wine-red flowers are unusual for a lilac, plus they contrast with the pinkish buds and offer an excellent fragrance.