Dwarf Korean Lilac | Tree Form

The Dwarf Korean Lilac, Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' is one of the smaller lilac varieties, but it can still achieve heights and widths of 6-8 feet (or more). So, all too often, it is planted in locations too small for its eventual size.

Luckily, pruning makes this small tree (or shrub) easy to maintain at a smaller size.

The best time to prune lilacs to avoid losing bloom for the next season is right after they have finished blooming. This video shows how to shear two Dwarf Korean Lilacs on standards, creating a formal look but uninterrupted flowering year after year.

Pruning on the shrub form is equally common, and you'll often find them in Japanese-style gardens due to the ease at which you can create unique sculptures.

For Lilac trees that have grown too large, here's a video showing how to reduce your plant to a smaller size. Make sure you only do this renewal pruning when the plant is dormant.

I encountered this pruning job carried out during the growing season. While this severe mid-season pruning will not kill the shrub, it's sure not much to look at in this fashion. The better choice would have been to wait until late fall or late winter to rejuvenate the shrub properly.

It's important to prune any sucker growth back on the Dwarf Korean Lilac Trees, as they have been grafted onto a Japanese Tree Lilac rootstock which has a completely different leaf and look.

Another smaller lilac is the Bloomerang series. However, be aware that they can achieve sizes larger than what most labels say. Here are some photos of a couple of Bloomerangs that were rejuvenated in late winter and the progression of growth over the next year. Bloomerangs are considered everblooming. Like other lilacs, the best flowering is in the spring, but as the shrub gets older, the repeat bloom in late summer into fall is a nice surprise.

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Kevin

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