Syringa meyeri 'Kojubella' LILLIFEE

Korean lilac is popular for its dwarf growth and fine texture of small leaves and narrow flowers composed in smaller panicles compared to common lilac. At the turn of the millennium a few new varieties and series were developed, bringing new and attractive colours as well as repeat flowering.

LILLIFEE is a cute little Korean lilac variety bred by Austrian botanist Dr. Helmut Pirc, European patent Nr. EU 55527 was granted in 2020. It produces a profusion of small, about 10 cm long panicles composed of narrowly funnel-shaped, lilac pink, sweetly fragrant flowers. They bloom for about 3 weeks in late May and after the hottest days of summer they re-bloom. Leaves are rather small (3-5 cm long), rounded to ovate, deciduous, and fresh green.

It forms a bushy shrub about one meter in height and 1.5m in width in maturity. It can be placed among small shrubs as a small flowering specimen and is well suited for growing in outdoor planters, too, if all you have is a patio or balcony. If you purchase a good-looking plant, you probably won't need to prune it ever, otherwise you can trim it or shape it just after flowering (in June) in order to encourage formation of a good framework. If you need to rejuvenate it, do so before flowering and feed it well.

Lilacs can be grown in many soil types. For best result use reasonably fertile, moist but well-drained soil, preferably neutral or alkaline. Full sun is essential for profuse flowering, but part shade will be tolerated with slightly fewer flowers. Fully hardy to min. -34 °C (USDA zone 3), and suitable for outdoor pots.

Last update 20-04-2023