General Culture:
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, 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. 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.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Korean lilac is a dense, rounded-oval, non-suckering, deciduous shrub which typically grows 4-8 tall with a spread of 6-10. 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 (panicles to 4 long) cover this shrub with a profuse bloom in late April to early May (St. Louis area). Elliptic-ovate, dark green leaves (to 1.5 long) are smaller than the species. No fall color. This shrub is sometime grafted to a 4 standard and sold as a small tree with a dense, rounded crown. Tree form typically matures to 8 tall.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. This Korean lilac is extremely resistant to powdery mildew. Flower buds are susceptible to frost injury in early spring.
Uses:
Effective as a specimen or massed. Shrub borders, foundations. Good screen or informal hedge for property lines. Korean lilacs are generally more attractive than many other species of lilacs in summer due to their mildew-free foliage.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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