Dwarf Korean Lilac on Standard (Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’)
Syringa meyeri, commonly called Meyer lilac or Korean lilac, was found growing in a garden near Beijing, China by Frank Meyer in 1909. It is not known to exist in the wild. It is a compact, rounded, slow-growing, deciduous shrub that matures to 5-8′ tall and spreads to 10′ wide. Pale lilac to violet-purple flowers bloom in small, dense terminal clusters (panicles to 3-4″ long) in late April to early May (Indianapolis area). Flowers are fragrant. Small, broad-elliptic to obovate leaves (to 2″ long) are dark green. No fall color.
Mature Height: 4′-6′
Mature Spread: 5′-7′
Zone: 3
Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates light shade, but best bloom is in full sun. Prefers organically rich, moist, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soils.
Nurseryman’s Notes: ‘Palibin’ is a compact, low-spreading cultivar which typically grows 4-5’ tall with a spread of 5-7’. Pale pink, sweetly-fragrant single flowers arranged in dense, terminal clusters. This shrub is grafted to a 4’ standard and sold as a small tree with a dense, rounded crown. Tree form typically matures to 8’ tall.
Needs good air circulation. Good tolerance for urban conditions. Prompt removal of faded flower panicles before seed set will increase the bloom in the following year. Prune as needed immediately after flowering. Great small tree for around a patio, garden or pergola.
Charlotte Creek Nursery 