Lilac 'Miss Kim Dwarf'

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$34.99
Title

Bring a touch of refined elegance to your landscape with 'Miss Kim', a graceful dwarf lilac that extends the beauty of spring. This late-blooming gem is a sensory delight, producing abundance of icy-lavender flower spikes that emerge from deep purple buds. The fragrance is distinctive and intense—a sweet, spicy perfume that is arguably the most potent in the lilac world. With its compact, rounded shape and unique, wavy dark green leaves that resist the common "lilac look" of summer, 'Miss Kim' provides a manicured and sophisticated appearance that is perfect for even the most intimate garden spaces. 

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Plant Details

Mature Size:

6–8' H x 6–8' W

Zone:

3-8

Watering:

Medium

Foliage Type:

Deciduous

Growth Rate:

Slow - Moderate

Light:

Full Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Miss Kim Manchurian Lilac, Dwarf Korean Lilac, Miss Kim Lilac.

Scientific Name:

Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim'

Type:

Ornamental / Dwarf Flowering Shrub

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: 6–8 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide (slowly).
  • Growth Habit: Upright, compact, and broadly mounded.
  • Form: Dense, multi-stemmed shrub.
  • Growth Rate: Slow to moderate.
  • Longevity: 30+ years.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full sun is essential for flower production and to maintain its compact habit.
  • Soil Preferences: Rich, fertile, well-drained soil.
  • Soil Tolerance: Highly adaptable to various soil types; prefers neutral to slightly alkaline pH but is more tolerant of slightly acidic soils than other lilacs.
  • Watering: Regular watering during the first growing season; once established, it is notably more heat and drought-tolerant than common lilacs.

Special Features:

Highly resistant to powdery mildew; exceptional fall foliage color; intensely spicy fragrance; late-season bloomer; attracts butterflies; heat and humidity tolerant.

Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom Information: Blooms in late spring (after common lilacs). Features lavender-blue flowers that fade to a soft pinkish-white.
  • Fall Colour: Unlike many lilacs, 'Miss Kim' offers exceptional fall interest, with foliage turning a beautiful burgundy-red or deep purple.
  • Bark: Smooth, dark gray stems.
  • Winter Interest: A very clean and tidy branch structure that holds up well under snow

Garden Value:

A premier choice for foundation plantings, low hedges, and mixed borders. Its naturally mounded shape and compact size make it an ideal candidate for rock gardens and large-scale patio containers.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife Value: A magnet for butterflies, bees, and other beneficial pollinators.
  • Human Value: Provides one of the most celebrated fragrances in horticulture; adds significant multi-season value to small landscapes; ideal for those who want the lilac experience without the maintenance of larger varieties.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time To Plant: Spring or fall.
  • Spacing: 6–8 feet apart for individual growth; 4–5 feet apart for a dense hedge.
  • Location Tips: Excellent resistance to powdery mildew, but still thrives best with good air circulation. Its late bloom time often helps it avoid damage from late spring frosts.

Care:

  • Light Requirements: Full sun (at least 6 hours daily).
  • Moisture Requirements: Prefers consistent moisture; do not allow the soil to become bone-dry.
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance. Requires very little pruning due to its slow growth; if needed, prune immediately after flowering.
  • Fertilization: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins.

Tolerances:

Heat; humidity; powdery mildew; urban pollution; deer and rabbits.

Tips For Success:

Plant in a location with excellent drainage. To keep the plant looking its best, avoid overhead watering which can cause spots on the dark green foliage during the heat of summer.

Fruit Profile