Meyer Lilac
Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'
Pickup currently unavailable at Aiken Nursery
Syringa meyeri 'Palibin', the dwarf Korean lilac, is a Southern-friendly lilac with old-world charm and clouds of spring fragrance. For gardeners who have long admired the lilac's perfume but found themselves too far south to grow one with confidence, this compact deciduous shrub offers the romance of the traditional lilacs, dense clusters of icy-pink to pale lavender bloom, without the northern fussiness.
Growing just four to five feet tall and about as wide, 'Palibin' brings order and elegance to smaller garden spaces, cottage borders, and foundation plantings. The small, rounded, dark-green leaves lend a fine texture through the season, and come May the whole shrub erupts in a flurry of sweetly fragrant, remarkably free-flowering panicles, a spectacle made all the more precious by reliability in Southern climates where the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, so often fails.
A gift from the old gardens of Korea, this cultivar is unusually hardy, heat-tolerant, and disease-resistant, thriving in full sun and well-drained ground. The dwarf Korean lilac asks little pruning, rewards a degree of neglect with abundance, and holds a tidy, rounded shape season after season, often offering a lighter second flush of bloom in late summer or fall.
Use 'Palibin' as a foundation plant, a low informal hedge, a cottage-garden anchor, or the fragrant centerpiece of a mixed border, sited where the May perfume can be caught in passing, near a path, a door, or a window. Pair with peonies, catmint, and early perennials, give full sun and well-drained soil, and enjoy a true lilac in gardens where lilacs are supposed to be impossible. Deer generally leave the foliage alone.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 3–8
- Sun
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Soil
- Well-drained
- Mature size
- Height 4–5 Feet · Spread 4–6 Feet
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Seasonality
- Deciduous
Deep purple buds opening icy pink to pale lavender, fragrant, May and sometimes again in fall
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
What is your return policy?
Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
What payment methods can I use?
We offer 35 different payment methods including major providers like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, American Express and Diners as well as many different local payment methods including Klarna, iDEAL, AliPay, Sofort, giropay, and many more.
Can I make changes to my order after it’s been placed?
At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.
Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.