Syringa Baby Kim® - Dwarf Lilac

The Baby Kim dwarf lilac is a selection that concentrates all the charm of lilacs in a compact size, easy to incorporate into a flower bed, a low hedge, or a large pot on the terrace. Its spring flowering, mauve-lavender and highly fragrant, attracts butterflies and recalls that of classic, but bulky, varieties. It is a charming small bush that will thrive in many regions.

Belonging to the Oleaceae family, Syringa Baby Kim® ‘SMNSDTP’ is a hybrid from a breeding programme conducted in 2005 in Grand Haven (Michigan), selected in 2007, obtained by Timothy D. Wood for Spring Meadow Nursery. Baby Kim is more compact than the excellent Miss Kim lilac.
It is a rounded bush, dense and very compact; its growth is initially moderate, becoming slow once mature size is reached. In the ground, this lilac reaches 60 to 90 cm in height and 75 to 90 cm in spread. In a pot, expect 50–60 cm in height. The leaves are opposite, ovate, measuring 6–7 cm long by 4 cm wide and are a glossy dark green; the foliage falls in autumn, it is deciduous in winter. Flowering occurs from April to May: purple buds open into pink flowers turning to very pale mauve then white, gathered in terminal, fragrant panicles; the scent is distinct, typical of lilacs. Hardiness has been observed down to −32 °C in the breeder's trials; in Europe, it is considered hardy to −30 °C. This variety is less prone to late summer foliar diseases when grown in sun and well-drained soil.

The Syringa Baby Kim is a very easy to grow bush, if planted in sun, in cool and light soils. Its small development makes it interesting for small gardens and terrace decoration. It is placed in the foreground of flower beds, in a low border or near a pathway to enjoy the fragrance. You can pair it with dwarf spiraeas, dwarf abelias or Weigelas for pots. It will also pair well with early Chinese peonies and bearded irises, which flower at the same time.

The word "lilac" refers to both the colour and the genus Syringa; lilacs reached Northern Europe during the Renaissance via Ottoman gardens, well before the exploration of their Balkan habitats, which explains their strong presence in historic gardens.