7 pink-flowering lilacs to adopt in the garden!

The 'Belle de Nancy' lilac, a lilac with beautiful, well-filled pink clusters.

The ‘Belle de Nancy’ lilac, like many other varieties of lilac, is a creation of Victor Lemoine dating back to the late 19th century. In spring, during April or May, this beautiful bush adorns itself with a magnificent mauve-pink flowering. Its dense flower clusters are semi-double, and its buds lean towards light purple. Its pronounced lilac fragrance is a delight for passers-by.

Reaching 4 m in height and 3 m in width, this bush is very easy to cultivate in cool climates. An ordinary soil will suit it, provided it is well-drained. It is also very hardy.

The habit of the ‘Belle de Nancy’ lilac is upright and rounded. Thanks to its density and compact appearance, it fits perfectly in a flowering hedge, where after its exuberant flowering, it will fall a bit into anonymity with its heart-shaped deciduous foliage of a lovely fresh green. It can also be planted in isolation, for example, with a bed of hardy geraniums at its base. Alternatively, it can be accompanied by other lilacs, in white or intense violet colours to create contrast.

Syringa vulgaris ‘Belle de Nancy’

The lilac 'Belle de Moscou', with clusters of frosted pink flowers.

The lilac ‘Belle de Moscou’ is an old Russian variety that is quite emblematic of traditional or country gardens, but will also find its place in urban gardens. The flowering of this bush occurs around May and June. Its florets are double and densely packed. The small flowers are a very pale pink almost white, reminiscent of snow. It is very suitable for making bouquets. The fragrance of this lilac is quite light and delicate. Its deciduous leaves are fresh green and heart-shaped.

Among the main advantages of the lilac ‘Belle de Moscou’ are its vigour and its suckering character, which allows it to spontaneously form a bush with multiple trunks. It is also very hardy and grows easily in ordinary soil, provided it is well-drained.

It has a rather slender habit, with a spread of 2.5 m and an upright height of 3.5 m. In a country shrub border, it can be paired with other lilacs as well as other spring-flowering varieties such as mock orange, hawthorn, and Japanese quince.

Syringa vulgaris ‘Belle de Moscou’

The 'Zhemchuzhina' lilac, for beautiful romantic bouquets

The lilac ‘Zhemchuzhina’ is a relatively recent Russian variety, dating back to the 1960s. It is covered in spring, from May onwards, with large clusters of flowers measuring 15 to 18 cm in a very light soft pink. Its flower buds are slightly purplish. The florets can be single or semi-double. You will be able to create beautiful, highly fragrant romantic pink bouquets that will fill your home with their scent. You will also enjoy its fragrance in the garden.

Easy to cultivate, it has a bushy habit and is known for its good vigour and hardiness. The lilac is content with ordinary soil, even tolerating a bit of lime.

Although its heart-shaped foliage is deciduous, you can incorporate the lilac ‘Zhemchuzhina’ into a flowering hedge, where it will shine alongside Japanese quinces, mock oranges, and other spring-flowering bushes. You can also plant it alone or in groups with lilacs of other colours.

Syringa vulgaris ‘Zhemchuzhina’

Chinese lilac 'Superba', ideal for small gardens

The Syringa microphylla ‘Superba’ is somewhat different from common lilacs, distinguished particularly by its very compact habit, with a spread of 1.5 m in all directions and the irregular shape of its panicles that seem almost pendulous. Its small size makes it an ideal bush for small city gardens, bringing a pronounced lilac fragrance. Its advantage is its highly fragrant spring flowering starting in April, which continues until autumn, sometimes pausing during periods of intense heat. The bright pink of its flowers enlivens the garden for a large part of the year. Its heart-shaped deciduous leaves are smaller than those of common lilacs.

This small bush thrives in full sun but requires fresh, well-draining soil. Additionally, it is sensitive to drought in its early years, so it is important to mulch and water it during the hottest periods of summer.

Syringa microphylla ‘Superba’

The 'Red Pixie' lilac, a small weeping lilac.

The ‘Red Pixie’ lilac is a very compact, small-sized lilac. At maturity, it reaches an average height of 1.5 m and the same width. Its almost weeping habit, with branches that grow nearly horizontally, gives it a very interesting appearance in any type of garden. It can even be grown in a pot on a terrace, provided it never lacks water and is placed in full sun. This is a bush that thrives in sunny conditions. Although it tolerates partial shade, this situation reduces its flowering.

From April onwards, it delights the eyes with its lovely ruby-coloured buds that open into small flowers of a beautiful pearly pink. The florets, which are quite light, can be picked to create sumptuous scented bouquets for the home. The size of the flowers also has the added benefit of stimulating a second flowering. In fact, it has a semi-perpetual flowering until June.

Like all shrubs in the genus Syringa, this lilac is deciduous and very hardy.

Syringa microphylla ‘Red Pixie’

The Bloomerang 'Pink Perfume' lilac, suitable for all types of gardens.

The Bloomerang ‘Pink Perfume’ lilac is a new compact variety, highly interesting for its abundant flowering of very fragrant pink blooms. In spring, during May and June, it is first covered in dark pink buds that open into lovely flowers of a soft, romantic pink. Delightfully scented, as lilacs are, the Bloomerang ‘Pink Perfume’ extends the pleasure: after a summer break in flowering, it resumes until September or October, albeit less intensely. It will then accompany the perpetual roses. With deciduous, heart-shaped foliage, it has a fairly dense and bushy habit.

Thanks to its small size—reaching up to 1.30 m in height and width—it easily finds its place at the front of shrub borders, enlivening them with its blooms in spring and autumn. It is also very suitable for small gardens or even terraces, as it tolerates growing in large containers very well.

This is an easy bush that tolerates all types of soil. It should be planted in full sun or partial shade.

Syringa ‘Bloomerang Pink Perfume’

Dwarf lilac 'Palibin', ideal for the city

The dwarf lilac ‘Palibin’ is an interesting dwarf lilac for many reasons. It is an ancient Chinese species. It is very compact and reaches 2 m in width in all directions. Moreover, it has a slow growth rate, making it an ideal candidate for any type of garden, including small city gardens and terraces. It can indeed also be planted in a pot. Another of its strengths is its abundant, highly fragrant, and partially perpetual flowering. In spring, it is covered with small mauve to light pink flowers. It then continues to bloom intermittently depending on the coolness of the soil. Its habit is bushy and dense, and its leaves are deciduous. The ‘Palibin’ lilac has a very natural appearance.

Furthermore, it is a shrub that is very easy to integrate into the garden, thanks to its excellent hardiness. It is also well resistant to diseases and, finally, it tolerates even urban pollution, which is a significant advantage in the city.

For all these reasons, the dwarf lilac ‘Palibin’ is truly a shrub to adopt without hesitation.

Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’ (photo Wikipedia)