Korean Lilac
One of the most beautiful mid-season flowering shrubs is the Korean lilac. This lovely scented bush can be part of any landscape due to its multi-faceted features.
With over 1,000 varieties of lilacs from which to choose, a gardener may have difficulty in choosing just the right one for their landscape. People with smaller gardens often think that lilacs are not an option for them because they can attain great heights and spread out over the area. For these, the Korean lilac is a perfect choice. The Korean lilac is one of the few dwarf lilac varieties available, reaching only about 5 foot in height at maturity. As with any lilac, it can be kept pruned back to a lower height, but even at 5 foot it is ideal for a more compact landscape.
Most varieties of lilacs are valued primarily for their fragrance flowery plumes. After the flowers die away, there is little attraction in the bush and its leaves at all. The Korean lilac is a contradiction to that, as its dark green leaves offer a distinct attractiveness both against the pale lavender blooms and as a stand alone foliage plant. Whereas most lilac bushes simply die away into oblivion in the fall, the Korean lilac provides a spectacular show with bright yellow foliage now adorning its branches. Matching the deciduous nature of all lilacs, the Korean does lose all of its leaves to hibernate over the winter months.
In the spring, profuse buds will begin to show; usually in mid-May to early June. When in bloom, the entire bush will be blanketed in beautiful and perfumed blooms. For those interested in planting a young Korean lilac, early spring is the best time to do so.
Even for an inexperienced gardener, a Korean lilac will do well in the landscape. The plant is notoriously easy to grow, does well in most any type of soil and is very resistant to most disease and pollution issues that disturb the growth of many other lilac varieties. It does need sun to best showcase its flowery plumes; at least six hours of sun is recommended. And, as with most lilac bushes, a well drained soil is best as lilacs do not enjoy standing in water.
Any gardener would do well to add lilacs into their landscape. A harbinger of spring, the sweet perfume of these bushes can bring enjoyment to not just the owners, but anyone within sensory distance. The Korean lilac in particular is a perfect addition to any garden, but especially for anyone who wants a large presence with little room to offer. Small, hardy, compact, beautiful at any time of the year but especially in mid-spring, the Korean lilac will be a centerpiece of the garden.