The ‘Miss Kim’ lilac is a deciduous flowering shrub that blooms in the spring with clusters of fragrant, panicle-shaped lavender-purple blossoms. Compared to the common or French lilac (Syringa vulgaris), it has smaller blooms, a shorter mature height, and a different blossom scent. In addition, it is more resistant to powdery mildew. ‘Miss Kim’ blooms later than other plants, thus frost damage to its flower buds is less common. When compared to other lilac cultivars, the ‘Miss Kim’ cultivar is occasionally thought of as a dwarf plant; nevertheless, compact would be a better descriptor. This shrub is still about the same size as a normal lilac, but it is thicker and less lanky. Additionally, ‘Miss Kim’ will blossom earlier than a typical lilac after being newly planted.
Typically, this lilac is planted in spring or fall as a potted nursery specimen. A mature height of about 5 feet will be reached by the shrub “Miss Kim” after three years or more of growth.
How quickly do Miss Kim Lilac trees expand?
The Miss Kim lilac is a great option if you don’t have a lot of room but still want the lilac aroma (Syringa pubescens subsp. patula Miss Kim). Compared to a normal lilac, this plant stays smaller, denser, and grows more slowly. The graceful shrub maintains its natural shape while blooming profusely in the spring. This lovely and fragrant shrub is something you should include in your outdoor areas.
Dark purple-pink hues can be seen in the flower buds. The colors range from an icy blue to a soft lavender as they open. By the end of the season, the blossoms have turned a gentle lavender-pink color.
These flowers have a lovely smell that permeates the entire garden in addition to their pink hues. Late April is when you can really smell it. Like other lilac kinds, the dark leaves are smaller and more rounded. The vegetation maintains its green tint throughout the summer. When fall arrives, the leaves turn a blushing red color. But occasionally, this shrub produces a magnificent crimson fall color.
There are many uses for this lilac plant in your yard because it is such an adaptable species. Underplanting this shrub with smaller evergreens and flowering plants yields the greatest results. Plant these bushes 2 to 3 feet away from the center of each lilac if you want a dense hedge. For those looser hedges, the Miss Kim lilac can be planted around 3 to 4 feet apart. You should consider adding the Miss Kim as a foundation planting for homes with higher windows. An wonderful specimen to secure those property corners is a solitary plant.
The Miss Kim is the ideal plant for patio and walkway borders due to its little stature. This lilac is excellent for hedging the back of your mixed borders in a backyard garden. To generate a dense mass planting, plant in a checkerboard pattern. This lilac will thrive in a sizable pot as a patio or pool deck screen. You can wish to put the Miss Kim to either side of your entranceway if you want to give it a dramatic effect.
To help those fragrant blooms, you need go above and beyond. It is necessary to plant the Miss Kim lilac on soil that drains properly. It is preferable to plant this lilac in a raised mound if your yard has puddles. Those soils with standing water do not appeal to Miss Kim. This lilac requires direct sunlight, so you should plant it in an area that receives a lot of early sunlight. The lilac will only develop leaves and no flowers if there is too much shade in your yard.
The Miss Kim lilac needs a fair quantity of water during its first year. For a healthier plant in hot, dry areas, the roots must be kept moist. This plant can withstand those mild droughts once the roots have grown. In regions where there are long gaps between raindrops, you might need to offer additional water.
Approximately 6 to 10 inches will grow on this shrub per year. The Miss Kim lilac can grow as tall as 4 to 5 feet when fully mature. You ought to remove the broken limbs and crossed branches. You must prune at the proper time since the blossoms grow on wood from the previous year. After this shrub finishes flowering for the season, you should clip it. If you stick to this pruning plan, you won’t lose blossoms that will bloom the next season.
- Type of plant: Shrub
- Regular weekly watering is required, or more frequently in extremely hot weather.
- Pronunciation of the plant: sih-REEN-gah pew-BES-senz pat-ew-la
- Evergreen/deciduous: Deciduous
- Slow rate of growth
- Average size of a landscape: Slow-growing; matures to 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, or perhaps higher.
What is the growth rate of lilac bushes?
The lilac is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub with an erratic, rounded shape. When young, it grows quickly, but as it ages, its growth slows to roughly one foot every year. The stems’ sturdy wood has a dark gray to gray-brown color. The leaves are light green underneath and dark green to blue-green above. The clusters of four petal blooms, which come in lilac, light purple, or lavender hues, bloom in April or May. They have a strong fragrance. Although the lilac thrives best in sunny locations, it cannot stand hot, muggy weather. It requires moist, well-drained soil that is neutral or just a little bit alkaline in pH. Peat or leaf mold can be added to the soil as a supplement. As soon as they start to fade, old flowers should be removed. Lilacs should be pruned as soon as they finish blooming. Pruning the shrub is preferred since it will highlight the medium-aged wood, which will still contribute to the plant’s good size and produce nice blooms. Remove a third of the earliest stems at ground level each year to accomplish this. Any remedial trimming, like removing competing branches or sucker growth, can be done concurrently. Pruning older lilacs as small, multiple-branched trees will highlight a few massive, old trunks while removing sucker growth and making them a focal point of the landscape. The shrub can also be pruned into a tree with a single stem. Lilacs that are overgrown can be pruned to a few inches above the surface. They will bloom once more in three to four years, Depending on the mature height, space your plants 3–4 feet apart if you want a hedge.
How much larger can a Miss Kim Lilac grow?
It’s a dream to ride the Miss Kim Lilac! Take in the lovely blooms’ beauty as well as their mouthwatering aroma. With just one scent, this divine plant will transport you to your happy place!
This beautiful deciduous shrub blooms profusely in spring with purple-blue flowers that have a heavenly aroma. The rich, lovely green foliage is. Autumn brings out a gorgeous crimson hue on the leaves. Any landscape is dramatically improved by Miss Kim Lilac’s color, texture, and interest.
The Miss Kim Lilac needs little maintenance. This lilac can grow in a range of soils as long as they are well-drained and prefers part to full light. Once planted, the Miss Kim is drought resistant. For optimal results, fertilize with a slow-release fertilizer in the early spring. This lilac does not require pruning, but if you must, it is advised to wait until just after the spring blooms have faded. Deer and disease resistance apply to lilacs.
After the blooming is finished, prune to promote reblooming. Be careful not to prune too much as this could inhibit future blooms.
A few factors, including as improper weed control, pruning at the wrong time, and insufficient sunlight, among others, can prevent your lilac from flowering.
In the landscape, this versatile lilac goes nicely with daylilies, hostas, and clematis.
The Miss Kim Lilac needs little maintenance. This lilac can grow in a range of soils as long as they are well-drained and prefers part to full light. Once planted, the Miss Kim is drought resistant. For the first few months, deeply water once every two days. when the earth is dry, water the established plants. For optimal results, fertilize with a slow-release fertilizer in the early spring. This lilac does not require pruning, but if you must, it is advised to wait until just after the spring blooms have faded. Lilacs are resistant to deer.
By creating the optimal atmosphere for your plant to flourish, you can avoid illnesses and pests. Miss Kim lilacs are resistant to illness. Insects hardly ever harm lilacs. But be cautious of scale and borers. On the underside of leaves, stems, and branches, scale insects can be spotted. They may have a waxy or cottony appearance and move slowly or not at all. These parasitic insects can be a concern if they multiply rapidly. Neem oil can be used to cure them. Apply numerous dosages and make sure the entire plant is completely covered. Your plant has borer infestation if you notice holes in the stems. Since they dwell inside the plant, they are typically difficult to treat without cutting the plant back. Bacillus thuringiensis, a natural insecticide, can be a useful remedy.
At maturity, the Miss Kim Lilac reaches heights of 5 to 8 feet and widths of roughly 6 feet. For a distinctive hedge or perhaps a privacy screen, this Lilac works well. Create a wonderful focal point in your garden or yard by planting one. For a cottage, cutting, or wildlife garden, lilacs are ideal. So that you can take pleasure in the flower’s aroma, plant your Miss Kim anywhere you pass by frequently.
Browse our collection of Shrubs and Flowering Shrubs for more choices.
How long does it take a lilac plant to flower?
A lilac plant was given to me around seven years ago, and I planted it in our backyard. Each day, it receives several hours of direct sunlight. The leaves have always been a wholesome, mold-free green. It presently stands at about 7 feet. Every year, I eagerly anticipated the blossoms. The first blooms, consisting of two or three clusters of florets, appeared in the spring of 2011. There is only one this spring (now)! Can I do anything to ensure that the plant blooms the next spring?
A: One of the great things that gardeners look forward to each spring is the aroma of lilacs. I don’t think there’s much of a purpose to offer your lilacs significant yard space if they don’t flower. But there are a number of explanations for why they don’t blossom.
- Lilacs prefer a slightly alkaline soil (pH 6-7), even hydration, and lots of sunlight for optimal growth (at least 6 hours). Therefore, you might only get a few or no flowers if your soil is very acidic, it’s dry in the summer when the buds are growing, or your plant doesn’t get enough sun.
- Age: Lilac plants require time to develop before they start to bloom. Therefore, a young plant might not be mature enough to bloom if you have one.
Most plants begin to blossom after three to four years, while others might take up to seven. The first few years’ blooms will be rare, but they should become more numerous over time. If the plant you purchased was in bloom when you got it, then this is definitely not your fault.
- Pruning: Old wood is where lilacs bloom. They develop their buds during the summer so that by late January, they are completely developed and prepared to bloom.
So, two to three weeks after they bloom, or should have blossomed, is the ideal time to prune. Later trimming will reduce or stop flowering the following year. The plant can be kept healthy and flowering with yearly pruning. Remove any broken or dead branches first, then any old, woody ones, any that cross or rub, and then shape. Remove no more than one-third of the plant per year; nevertheless, if the plant is pruned on a three-year schedule, it will regenerate completely in just three brief springs.
- Overfeeding: Sometimes we solve one issue by causing another. Lilac typically doesn’t require further fertilizing. You will get a large, luxuriant plant but few, if any, blossoms if you feed your lilacs, especially if you use nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Instead of flowers, nitrogen, the first number in a fertilizer indication, 10-5-5, encourages the growth of leaves.
- Transplant shock: Lilacs require some time to adapt. Even if a plant had blossoms when you got it, it is common for plants to take two or even three years to establish themselves and begin to bloom.
If none of the aforementioned scenarios apply to your lilac, you might want to offer the plant some stress, which is something we frequently do to wisteria that doesn’t blossom. A foot or so away from the lilac bush’s base, drive a sharp shovel’s blade into the ground. Cut the plant down, severing the roots on both sides.
I have two inquiries about tulips and daffodils. (1) What should I do with them after they’ve finished blooming? Do you want to base-cut them or deadhead them? (2) Where should I plant new flowers to replace them: immediately next to the bulbs? Do we remove all the green to make room for new blossoms in order to do this?
A: Although no one wants to hear it, the bare greens must be endured if you want to see the spring tulips and daffodils, even when they begin to look unsightly. The greens must stay, but you can tidy up the plants by trimming the flower stems to the ground. They shouldn’t be clipped, tied, or braided since they need to grow and store energy for the bloom the next year. The leaves can be removed from the bed and raked off once they have turned brown.
It is the same as putting perennials among the bulbs as far as that is concerned. Give them room to expand; take care not to disturb the bulbs when digging new planting holes; and, ideally, pick plants that will begin to grow just as the bulbs begin to fade. Daffodils and daylilies are a popular coupling that offers an excellent circumstance since the daylilies mature and cover the daffodil greens just as they begin to look pretty ragged.