- origin
- growth
- blossom
- fruit
- leaves
- use
- standard
- bonsai
- Is dwarf lilac poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- sowing
- cuttings
- Dwarf lilac in a pot
- balcony
- Water dwarf lilac
- Fertilize dwarf lilac properly
- Cut dwarf lilac correctly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hibernate
- pests
- fungus
- Dwarf lilac does not bloom
- sorts
A dwarf lilac provides color accents in the garden. But its special growth traits make the shrub the ideal container plant, which also beautifies small front gardens and balconies. The robust garden beauty with the aromatic blossom scent has special requirements in terms of care and location.
The dwarf lilac impresses with its beautiful blooms in early summer
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- growth
- blossom
- fruit
- leaves
- use
- standard
- bonsai
- Is dwarf lilac poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- sowing
- cuttings
- Dwarf lilac in a pot
- balcony
- Water dwarf lilac
- Fertilize dwarf lilac properly
- Cut dwarf lilac correctly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hibernate
- pests
- fungus
- Dwarf lilac does not bloom
- sorts
- Cut the base of the branch lengthwise
- Briefly dip the stems in warm water
- Fill a tall vase one-third full with water
- Change water every two to three days
- Bushes that are 20 to 30 centimeters high require a volume of 3.5 liters
- Shrubs 60 to 80 centimeters high prefer a 15 liter pot
- Standard trees measuring 100 centimeters grow in pots with a volume of ten litres
- Palibin: Purple buds open from the end of May, delicate pink flowers. Up to 100 centimeters high. Growth height 80 to 125 centimeters.
- Red Pixie: Flowering period from late spring to mid-autumn, pink to magenta flowers. Spicy floral scent.
- Josee: Extremely hardy variety. Inflorescences slender with pink flowers. Growth height up to 150 centimeters.
origin
The dwarf lilac is also known as Meyer's lilac, derived from the scientific name Syringa meyeri. It belongs to the olive tree family and originally comes from northern China. Here the tree grows in the province of Liaoning, where it shapes shrub areas on mountain slopes.
growth
Meyer's lilac grows as a 1.5 meter tall shrub. He forms a loose shape. Its twigs are slightly square and may be bare or slightly downy hairy. The shrub grows very slowly but continuously. Due to its compact shape, it requires little space.
blossom
Dwarf lilac bushes develop small single flowers in panicle-shaped inflorescences. The flowers are between 2.5 and ten centimeters long. They consist of a dark purple calyx and a corolla, the lower part of which has fused petals to form a corolla tube. The cusps are spread and can be blue-purple, bluish with pink or red tinges, or completely white in color.
The flowering period extends from May to July. In wind-protected locations, the shrub blooms a second time in late autumn. Young plants are already flowering profusely. The flowers give off a sweet scent.
fruit
Meyer's lilac develops capsule fruits that scatter their seeds. The fruits are between one and two centimeters long and are covered with clearly visible pores.
leaves
The leaves are divided into blade and stem. The leaves are between one and five centimeters long and wide, elliptical or ovate in shape. The blade is short pointed or blunt. Their base is wedge-shaped or rounded.
Striking are the protruding leaf veins, which stretch hand-shaped over the green colored leaf blade. The underside of the leaf appears lighter and is hairy along the leaf veins.
use
Syringa meyeri is ideal for beautifying small gardens. It can be planted as a hedge or solitary. The Asian beauty cuts a particularly good figure as a border for beds. The dwarf lilac is suitable for pot planting. In this way you can give your balcony a spring-like atmosphere. The wood can be cultivated as a bonsai or standard tree.
The inflorescences of the dwarf lilac are suitable as cut flowers for the design of bouquets or as table decorations in vases. Cut off as long shoots as possible and then remove all leaves.
How to extend the flowering period of cut flowers:
standard
Varieties that grow at least 1.50 meters high can be grown as standard trees. In this form, the shrub develops a trunk that ends in a richly branched crown. Such tree-like specimens require less space and can also be grown in tubs. In this way, the dwarf lilac forms an aesthetic eye-catcher in the front yard or as the center of a perennial planting. It can also be placed directly in an open lawn. Several trees create an avenue that lines the main paths and driveways.
bonsai
Syringa meyeri is ideal for bonsai cultivation. The shrub is grown outdoors all year round. With sufficient light, the plant develops enough sugar and oxygen so that it can grow well. The trunk gets thicker and the leaves get stronger with the wind and rain. This makes the plants more robust against pests and diseases.
wire
Dwarf lilacs can be shaped by wiring. Wrap trunks, branches and twigs in a spiral from bottom to top with aluminum wire. Make sure the wire is taut but not too tight. The turns should be evenly spaced. You can then bring the branches into the desired shape. The wire is removed in mid-May, since growth in thickness begins at this time.
Cut dwarf lilac correctly
In order to maintain the shape of the bonsai, the shrub must be pruned regularly after flowering. When transplanting, you should trim the roots so that there is a balance between the root ball and the crown.
Is dwarf lilac poisonous?
Like all Syringa species, the dwarf lilac also contains the glycoside syringin. Although not classified as toxic, consumption of large amounts may cause abdominal cramps, headaches, and nausea in sensitive individuals and children. Small amounts are usually harmless. The leaves and flowers of some Syringa species are used to make teas.
Syringin has a similar effect on dogs and cats as it does on the human organism. Due to their body size, even small amounts can be enough to cause gastrointestinal problems. As a precaution, do not plant dwarf lilacs if there are pets in your garden.
Which location is suitable?
The original distribution areas are on dry to fresh locations in sunny to semi-shady locations. When there is less sunlight, the shrub flowers less luxuriantly. The dwarf lilac does not tolerate permanently damp conditions. To prevent such conditions from arising, you should loosen impermeable soils with sand. The shrub is considered robust because it tolerates both heat and cold. The city climate does not cause him any problems
What soil does the plant need?
The dwarf lilac grows on weakly acidic to strongly alkaline soils. The pH is ideally between 6.0 and 7.5. It thrives on both sandy and loamy soils if they contain a certain amount of humus. Nutrient-rich soils are important for the dwarf lilac to grow lushly.
sowing
Shrubs propagated from seed develop flower and leaf colors that combine the traits of two parent plants. In this way you can breed new varieties that develop into individual magnificent specimens.
After flowering, harvest the infructescence. You can use a sieve to separate withered leaves and plant parts from the seeds. Fill a planter with potting soil and scatter the seeds evenly. Put the pot in a cool and shady place. The winter cold encourages the seeds to germinate next spring.
In spring, make sure the soil never dries out. To increase humidity, you can cover the pots after winter or place them in a greenhouse. The seeds still require cool temperatures. When the young plants have grown a few centimeters high, they can be transplanted. Planting outdoors is possible from autumn.
cuttings
With this method you can create an identical image of the mother plant. At flowering time, cut off shoots that have at least three leaf nodes. You should choose young shoots that are not yet lignified.
The cut is made just below or above a leaf node. Roots can form in these places later. Remove the bottom leaves from the shoot. Cut a cross in the bark at the bottom so the cutting can absorb water. Put the shoot in potting soil that you have previously mixed from soil, sand and algae lime.
It takes a few weeks for the cuttings to develop roots. Many young plants do not start developing fresh shoots until the following spring.
Dwarf lilac in a pot
When cultivating in tubs, you should use garden soil that meets the substrate requirements. Mix in some sand or perlite to keep the soil from compacting and becoming more permeable. This will also prevent mold from forming.
The right planter:
balcony
The dwarf lilac is perfect for beautifying balconies. Its growth is limited. Regular pruning of shoots and roots keeps the shrub compact and small. It can stay outdoors all year round as it doesn't mind freezing temperatures. In particularly harsh winter months, you should protect the planter accordingly.
Water dwarf lilac
Syringa meyeri has a medium water requirement. He likes a fresh substrate and is sensitive to waterlogging. Short-term droughts don't cause problems for the roots as long as they don't last too long. When the leaves become limp, the next watering is due. When cultivating in a tub, you will need to water the shrub more regularly.
Fertilize dwarf lilac properly
Dwarf lilacs enjoy fertilization before and after flowering. Provide the plant with compost in spring and autumn. The early supply of nutrients ensures a particularly lush bloom and promotes growth.
Work horn shavings (€32.93) into the soil and give the plant a slow-release fertilizer so that it can draw on the nutrients all year round. Avoid fertilizers that are high in nitrogen. This ensures reduced flowering and your shrub smells less.
Cut dwarf lilac correctly
A pruning is usually not necessary. To support the dense growth habit, you can thin out the shrub a little after flowering. If there is a lack of space, you can radically cut back the shrub. This measure is well tolerated, as the shrub will sprout again from the old wood. However, there will be no flowering next spring, because the dwarf lilac develops its flower buds in the previous year.
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How do I plant correctly?
The older the dwarf lilac is, the more difficult it is to transplant. The roots can be quite extensive. This measure should be taken in the spring before flowering so that the shrub can settle into its new location by winter. Prune the shrub back into a compact shape before digging up. Ideally, there should be a balanced relationship between shoots and root ball. Rooting is all the better the less leaf mass the remaining roots have to supply with nutrients.
Cut out a large root ball and dig up the substrate. Place the shrub in the prepared planting hole and fill in any gaps with the excavation. Then the shrub is poured penetratingly so that the earth can close. A pouring rim prevents the water from running off the surface.
repot
The slow-growing dwarf lilac only needs to be planted in a new container after a few years. The potted plants enjoy a change of substrate every three years. If you want to keep the shrub small, you can trim the roots.
hibernate
The dwarf lilac is hardy and survives the frosty temperatures in a sheltered location without winter protection. Icy drafts cause problems for the plant. In such exposed places you should protect the shrub. Cover the ground with straw, sticks or fir branches to protect the roots.
Potted plants are more sensitive to frost because the soil in the pot freezes through quickly. Place the planter in a wind-protected place on a styrofoam plate (€35.50) or a piece of wood so that the cold from the ground doesn't get into the pot. You can wrap the bucket with foil or jute in particularly harsh winter months.
pests
Weak shrubs are occasionally attacked by aphids or mealybugs. These pests feed on the sap of the plant, so that the dwarf lilac is additionally weakened. Wipe off infested plant parts with a cloth that you have previously soaked in a detergent solution. As a preventive measure, you should ensure an optimal supply of nutrients so that the immune system of the plant is not weakened.
fungus
Waterlogging leads to rotting of the roots. As a result, fungal spores of the genus Phytophthora settle, which damage the plant. You can save your plant by acting quickly. Dig up the shrub and cut off rotten roots liberally. Trim the remaining roots and allow the root ball to air dry for 24 hours.
Plant the shrub in fresh soil and trim the branches to allow the plant to regenerate faster. Refrain from pouring. The first watering occurs after three or four days. It takes about two weeks for the dwarf lilac to recover.
Dwarf lilac does not bloom
If the dwarf lilac does not bloom, a later change of location can be the cause. If the shrub is transplanted after the flowering period, bud formation often does not occur in autumn. You should always transplant the wood before flowering.
tips
Woody plants that develop their splendor after the flowering period of the dwarf lilac prove to be suitable plant partners. You can create aesthetic plant arrangements with hydrangeas, bearded flowers, garden hibiscus or ranunculus bushes. Early flowering shrubs such as weigela or fragrant jasmine are suitable for creating a colorful hedge.