Miss Kim Lilac

Miss Kim Lilac (Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim')

Miss Kim Lilac, Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim', is a compact, cold hardy lilac that brings strong fragrance, soft lavender flowers, and excellent fall color to smaller spaces. In late spring, the shrub is covered in dense clusters of pale lavender blooms that fade to nearly white as they mature, standing out against the fine textured green foliage. Its naturally rounded, well behaved habit fits easily into foundation beds, narrow borders, and courtyard gardens where larger lilacs would overwhelm the space. As nights cool in autumn, the small leaves often turn rich burgundy to reddish purple, adding a second season of color and making Miss Kim an easy choice for gardeners who want beauty beyond spring alone.

Distinctive Features

Miss Kim Lilac typically grows about 5 to 7 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, forming a dense, rounded shrub on many short, well branched stems. The leaves are smaller and finer textured than common lilac, giving the plant a neat, refined look that reads as tidy even in tight beds. Flower buds open later in spring than many traditional lilacs, extending the lilac season with conical trusses of soft lavender blooms that lighten as they age and release a sweet, noticeable perfume. In fall, foliage often shifts to deep reddish tones, so this shrub continues to earn its place in the landscape long after the last flowers have faded.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Grows best in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light daily for heavy flowering, strong stems, and good bud set.
• Soil: Prefers well drained, moderately fertile soil and performs best in neutral to slightly alkaline conditions, but adapts to most average garden soils that do not stay wet.
• Water: Water regularly during the first few seasons to establish deep roots; once established, provide occasional deep soakings during extended dry periods rather than frequent light watering.
• Hardiness: Well suited to cold winter regions where lilacs traditionally thrive, as long as the planting site has good drainage and some air movement.
• Size: Forms a compact shrub about 5 to 7 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide at maturity, depending on climate, soil, and pruning.
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate grower that gradually builds a dense, well branched framework and then settles into a steady pattern of spring bloom and summer foliage.

Ideal Uses

• Foundation Plantings: Tuck under windows, near porches, or along entries where the modest height, spring flowers, and fragrance can be enjoyed at close range.
• Borders and Walkways: Line paths or the front of mixed borders so the scent and color are easy to appreciate as you pass by.
• Patio and Small Gardens: Use in town yards, courtyard beds, and compact outdoor rooms where you want classic lilac character without the size of taller varieties.
• Mixed Shrub and Perennial Borders: Combine with spireas, roses, peonies, and ornamental grasses to add spring color, scent, and a low, rounded shrub layer.
• Cut Flower and Scent Gardens: Grow near cutting beds to harvest fragrant stems for simple indoor arrangements that carry the sweet lilac perfume indoors.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: After establishment, water during hot or very dry weather with deep, occasional soakings to keep roots hydrated without saturating the soil.
• Pruning: Prune right after flowering by removing spent flower clusters and lightly thinning the interior if needed; avoid heavy pruning in late summer or fall, which can reduce the next year's bloom.
• Fertilizing: In early spring, apply a light dose of balanced, slow release fertilizer or a layer of compost if soil is lean, avoiding heavy nitrogen that favors foliage over flowers.
• Mulching: Maintain a 2 to 3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch a few inches away from the main stems.
• Seasonal Care: Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter or just after bloom, and monitor for suckers at the base, keeping or removing them depending on how wide you want the plant to spread.

Why Choose Miss Kim Lilac?

• Compact, Space Saving Habit: Delivers classic lilac beauty and fragrance in a smaller shrub that fits easily into foundation beds and modest gardens.
• Extended Bloom Season: Blooms later than many common lilacs, helping to stretch the overall lilac season in your landscape.
• Sweet, Noticeable Fragrance: Soft lavender blooms carry a traditional lilac scent that enhances paths, patios, and open windows.
• Attractive Fall Color: Small leaves often turn burgundy to reddish purple in autumn, adding a second season of interest beyond the spring flowers.
• Dependable Focal Point: With good sun, drainage, and timely pruning, Miss Kim Lilac returns year after year as a reliable, low maintenance focal point in sunny borders, walkways, and foundation plantings.

With its compact rounded habit, late season lavender blooms, sweet fragrance, and colorful fall foliage, Miss Kim Lilac is an excellent choice for adding four season interest, fragrant spring flowers, and a tidy, easy care presence to sunny gardens and outdoor living spaces.