Syringa meyeri Palibin - Lilac

The Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' is undoubtedly the most famous representative of a small and very resistant Chinese species. Often planted in gardens, this variety, awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society, is appreciated for its modest habit, natural appearance, but also for its generous and remarkably fragrant flowering. It's small clusters of single flowers in a light mauve-pink colour bloom abundantly in spring and intermittently, depending on the freshness of the soil, until autumn. Perfect for small gardens, it can also be grown in pots on the terrace or balcony. It is a very hardy plant, not demanding, water-efficient, resistant to diseases and urban pollution, which will also look good in a small flowering hedge, planted in groups or even on its own near the house.

The lilac 'Palibin' is an old horticultural creation. It derives from the Syringa meyeri, originally from North and West China, although it has never been found in the wild. 'Palibin' distinguishes itself from the type by a slower growth and reduced size. All these plants belong to the olive family.

This lilac naturally forms a rounded, bushy and well-branched shrub, as wide as it is tall. When fully grown, it will not exceed 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in all directions at maturity. Its growth is slow, so that at the age of 10, it rarely exceeds 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) in all directions. This variety flowers from a young age, abundantly in April-May, a few days before common lilacs, in the form of light and airy pyramidal thyrses, pleasantly fragrant, measuring 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in), composed of small single flowers in a light mauve-pink colour, born from pink-purple buds. These inflorescences are grouped in bouquets at the end of the previous year's shoots, then they bloom again more sporadically throughout the summer and until autumn, at the end of the year's branches. This flowering attracts many butterflies and pollinating insects. Its deciduous foliage is composed of small elliptical leaves, 2 to 4 cm (0.8 to 1.6 in) long, of a medium green colour, highly resistant to powdery mildew.

Whether it is the fragrance, flowering, childhood memories or as a symbol of a significant event, everyone has a good reason to love lilacs, as endearing as they are unpretentious. The Lilac 'Palibin' finds its place in a small garden or even on a terrace, wherever space is limited. Perfectly hardy, easy to grow in ordinary but well-drained soil, even in cold or dry regions, not demanding, it adapts to all styles of gardens and all our climates. It is a major element for the creation of a scented garden, with its flowering accompanying that of brooms, pink or white brooms. It can also be planted in large borders, in groups, individually or as a free hedge mixed with other species (flowering apple trees, Japanese cherry trees, Chinese almond trees, forsythias, Japanese quinces, Deutzias etc.). Its deliciously fragrant clusters are appreciated in spring bouquets, together with the first garden irises, early peonies, bellflowers and florist's ranunculus.