Miss Kim Lilac Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim'
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Miss Kim Lilac:
- Phonetic Spelling
- si-RING-gah pew-BES-senz PAT-yoo-luh
- Description
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'Miss Kim Lilac' is a compact deciduous flowering shrub. This cultivar is a member of the Oleaceae or olive family and is smaller than the Common Lilac. It grows upright and has a somewhat rounded habit. This shrub measures 4 to 9 feet at maturity. In the spring, its flowers are fragrant and appear initially as purple buds and then become dense paired terminal clusters of lavender tubular-shaped blossoms.
The plant is a native of Northeast China and Korea. Reportedly, the seed for 'Miss Kim' was collected in Korea's Pouk Han Mountains in 1947 by Professor E. M. Meader. It was given the name 'Miss Kim' because that is a common name in Korea. It was released by the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station in 1954. The Royal Horticultural Society has honored this shrub with the prestigious Award of Garden Merit. It has been recognized for its landscape appeal, hardiness, and pest resistance.
The genus name, Syringa, originates from the Greek word "syrinx" which means "tube or pipe." The species name, pubescens, means "downy or hairy."
'Miss Kim Lilac' blooms best in full sun. It prefers a neutral to alkaline pH and rich loamy moist soil. Good air circulation is required, so plant crowding should be avoided. The shrub is hardy from USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8. They are easy to grow and maintain. If pruning is needed, this is best done immediately after flowering. 'Miss Kim' blooms on old wood. If pruned too late the blooms for next year may be inadvertently removed. Deadheading spent blooms will increase blooming. This shrub may be propagated by softwood cuttings, grafting, or chip budding.
The leaves are dark green, elliptical to ovate in shape, and measure 3-5 inches long. In the fall, the leaves turn a burgundy red. The lavender flowers are showy, fragrant, and make an excellent cut flower.
'Miss Kim Lilac' attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is deer resistant.
This compact shrub has three seasons of interest and would be a good selection for small landscape areas. It may be used as a specimen, mixed border, hedge, or group plantings. Its showy fragrant blooms in spring and attractive fall foliage will be an added attraction in your landscape.
Quick ID Hints:
- more compact than Common Lilac
- dense clusters of fragrant and showy lavender tubular-shaped blooms in the spring
- dark green elliptical leaves that turn burgundy-red in the fall
Diseases, Pest, and Other Problems:
This shrub has no serious insect or disease problems. It has excellent resistance to powdery mildew. Possible diseases may include lilac blight and honey fungus. Insects that may be problematic include leaf-mining moth, thrips, and willow scale.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Syringa
- Species:
- pubescens
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Native to Northeast China to Korea and Manchuria
- Distribution:
- Native: China and Korea; Distribution: United States--AL, AK, CA, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MS, NH, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, and WS
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are fragrantly scented, lavender in color, and tubular in shape. They are arranged into dense terminal paired clusters that measure about 4-5 inches long, typically blooming in May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are dark green, elliptical to ovate, simple, and oppositely arranged. They measure 3 to 5 inches long. In the fall, the leaves turn burgundy-red.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
