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Meyer Lilac Syringa pubescens subsp. pubescens

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Syringa meyeri
Phonetic Spelling
si-RING-gah pew-BES-senz pew-BES-senz
Description

Syringa meyeri is a spreading lilac, wider than it is tall, with reddish-purple buds opening to pale lilac fragrant flowers. It blooms profusely in mid-season, typically mid-May and first flowers at an early age.  It can be used in a shrub border or planted in groups to form a low hedge.  

Meyer Lilac has more mildew resistance than most lilacs and is easy to grow in urban conditions, preferring full sun although it will tolerate some shade. It performs best in moist, well-drained soils, with a neutral pH or slightly alkaline. Although tolerant of poor soil, it does not do well in heavy clay or a site that is not well-drained.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Palibin'
    Reddish buds open to whitish pink flowers
  • 'Sugar Plum Fairy'
    Rosy lilac flowers, compact shrub, reblooms sporadically in summer
  • 'Tinkerbell'
    spicy fragrance and wine-red flower buds that open to pink
'Palibin', 'Sugar Plum Fairy', 'Tinkerbell'
Tags:
#fragrant#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#specimen#shrub#easy to grow#purple flowers#pink flowers#low maintenance#cottage garden#accent plant#erosion control#mounding#multistemmed#neutral pH#deer resistant#lavender flowers#foundation planting#rounded#border planting#cutting garden#alkaline soils tolerant#screening#poor soils tolerant#mildew resistant#urban conditions tolerant#compact habit#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#dense growth#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Palibin'
    Reddish buds open to whitish pink flowers
  • 'Sugar Plum Fairy'
    Rosy lilac flowers, compact shrub, reblooms sporadically in summer
  • 'Tinkerbell'
    spicy fragrance and wine-red flower buds that open to pink
'Palibin', 'Sugar Plum Fairy', 'Tinkerbell'
Tags:
#fragrant#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#specimen#shrub#easy to grow#purple flowers#pink flowers#low maintenance#cottage garden#accent plant#erosion control#mounding#multistemmed#neutral pH#deer resistant#lavender flowers#foundation planting#rounded#border planting#cutting garden#alkaline soils tolerant#screening#poor soils tolerant#mildew resistant#urban conditions tolerant#compact habit#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#dense growth#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Syringa
    Species:
    pubescens
    Family:
    Oleaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Layering
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Northern China and Korea, northern Japan
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    Fragrance
    Screening
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Mounding
    Multi-stemmed
    Oval
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    dry brown capsule persists into winter
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Description:
    Fragrant violet-purple flowers densely packed on 4" panicle. Blooms in May.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Orbicular
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Undulate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Dark green leaves, .7 to 1.7" with slightly wavy margins with nearly palmate venation. Non-showy fall color.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Lenticels:
    Conspicuous
    Stem Description:
    stems are gray-brown, shoots have prominent lenticels
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Heat
    Poor Soil
    Urban Conditions