Syringa Meyeri Josee Dwarf Korean Lilac

Syringa meyeri is the Korean Lilac, but it’s not known in the wild. It was found in a garden near Beijing, China by Frank Meyer in 1909. Syringa refers to the Greek word syrinx meaning tube or pipe (syringe) which describes the tube-like stems of some lilac species. Meyeri of course refers to Frank Meyer.

The cultivar Josee is a compact lilac suitable where space is limited. It has green, heart-shaped foliage and an abundance of highly fragrant soft lavender-pink flowers. It blooms in May and June and then again from August to September and is very popular for this twice-blooming habit.

Its sweetly scented flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies and it won’t outgrow its welcome. This is a beautiful dwarf lilac for informal borders and country cottage-style gardens.

Height And Spread of Syringa Meyeri Josee
Dwarf Korean Lilac Josee is small and compact. It only reaches 1.5 metres in height and spread.

How Hardy Is Syringa Meyeri Josee
It’s hardy down to freezing temperatures if its roots are well drained and it gets plenty of sun.

How to Use Syringa Meyeri Josee
This dwarf lilac is a good choice for low-maintenance borders and cottage-style gardens in rural areas or urban courtyards. Its pretty lavender-pink flowers attract pollinators and provide colour in May and then again from August to September.
It’s suitable for growing in pots, but be sure to keep the plant container well-watered and fed.  This is a great way to brighten up a patio, roof terrace, or balcony garden with its rosy flowers and sweet-scented fragrance.

How To Care For Syringa Meyeri Josee
Dwarf Korean Lilac Josee prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade. It does best in well-drained to very well-drained neutral to alkaline soils. Lilac is not a fan of acidic soils and is one of the best shrubs for chalky gardens.
Pruning isn’t necessary, but you can gently prune back too long stems after flowering has finished if required. Water it well until you can see new growth and apply a thick layer of well-rotted organic mulch to the roots in early spring.
Container-grown lilacs need regular water, fertiliser and free draining soil. You can achieve this by placing the container on bricks or purpose-made pot feet.