How on earth did those small-scale arborvitae I engraft in front of the house get so Brobdingnagian ?
Someone planted something that was low when it was first put down , or peradventure it was you . But over the years , it has tardily grown into a vast monster .
Sometimes it ’s difficult to picture how big a shrub or tree will get , even in a few eld , let alone when it ’s fully grown . plant life growers and breeder are cognisant of this egress , which is why there are more and more dwarf ( or Latin names that include the words “ nana ” or “ compacta ” ) varieties on the mart . But if there is no dwarf variety usable , you may find you need to try out other options . Here are some humble options for four of the most loved but often overgrown garden plants . We are talking about Arborvitae , Lilac , Birch , and Butterfly Bush .
With their sweet fragrant heyday in shades of purple , pinkish and white , lilacs are a darling bound - flowering shrub . But sometimes Hellenic lilac like Syringa vulgaris can outgrow their space or you need something a bit unlike . Luckily , many other plants share the familiar anatomy and heyday of lilacs but with fundamental preeminence . Keep reading to divulge beautiful bushes that resemble lilacs for various landscapes .
Korean Lilac – Syringa meyeri
thick bush growing 4 - 5 feet tall and across-the-board
Abundant lavender - pinko blooms like little unwashed lilac flowers
orderly dense Vannevar Bush with good powdery mildew immunity
Profuse flowering in previous spring on anterior year ’s growing
Korean lilac , also known as Meyer lilac , is a smaller species well - suited to today ’s garden . It do work nicely in boundary line , foundations and containers with full sun exposure .
Dwarf Korean Lilac – Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’
midget variety reach just 4 - 5 groundwork marvellous and wide-eyed
Light pinkish buds open to sweet fragrant pallid purple flowers
erect rounded word form ideal for minuscule blank
Blooms spring through former summertime ; attractive dark-green foliage
This compendious Korean lilac cultivar fits anywhere you need a petite lilac . It ’s idealistic for rock music garden , adjoin bed and patio container .
Bloomerang Lilac – Syringa ‘Bloomerang’
compendious lilacs give 3 - 4 metrical unit tall and panoptic
Flowers resemble coarse lilac but rebloom from summer into fall
Available in violet and pinkish - purple color miscellany
Neat , tidy habit ; good for borders , creation , pots
The Bloomerang serial of lilacs give you the spring bloom you expect plus spectacular summer and descent reblooming . The dwarf shrubs work well in any little infinite .
Peking Lilac – Syringa pekinensis
Medium shrub grow 8 - 10 foundation marvelous and all-embracing
Fragrant white flower panicles in late natural spring
Exfoliating cinnamon - coloured bark for winter involvement
Upright vase build ; fast agriculturist suitable for informal hedges
With cluster of white bloom of youth and attractive exfoliating bark , Peking lilac offers a dainty alternative to the omnipresent purple variety . Give it elbow room to broadcast in borders and cottage garden .
Miss Kim Lilac – Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’
compendious shrub maturing at 6 feet grandiloquent and broad
Lavender flower buds open to fragrant pale lilac blooms
Dark dark-green foliage turn burgundy - Red River in fall for seasonal interest group
erect form works well in repeated layer , border and foundations
The deep wine fall leaf of Miss Kim lilac sets it aside from the average . This tiny , reblooming variety fits attractively into any landscape .
Dwarf Korean Spice Lilac – Syringa meyeri ‘Dwarf Korean’
Compact form grow 4 - 5 feet tall and 6 feet all-encompassing
passing fragrant flowers afford rich pink then fade to blench lavender
Dark greenish foliage is mold resistant
Blooming in clouds of sweetly sweet efflorescence in late spring , this fabulous nanus offers big lilac fragrance in a petite package . It ’s idealistic for borders and miscellaneous beds where fragrance can be appreciated up close .
So if you love lilacs but want small sizes or different blooming colors , see out these delightful choice . They ’ll give you the beauty and magical spell of lilac without overwhelming the landscape .
Other Shrubs that Mimic Lilacs
Beyond true lilac species and cultivars , some unrelated shrubs boast similar blossom and growth habits :
Beautybush – Kolkwitzia amabilis
arch branch stand abundant light pink bell - like blooms
Grows 8 - 10 metrical unit tall and wide ; suckering use
Prefers full sun ; tolerates most soils ; drouth immune
False Spirea – Sorbaria sorbifolia
Large plumes of midget white blossom like lilac panicles
Upright bush maturate 4 - 8 foot tall and 3 - 6 feet wide
Likes Dominicus to part shade ; spreads by suckers
Pink Weigela – Weigela florida ‘Pink Princess’
clustering of tubelike pinkish flower ; some varieties rebloom
compendious shrub maturing at 4 - 5 substructure grandiloquent and wide
Full sunlight to light shade ; attracts hummingbirds
While not accurate lilac lookalikes , these flowering shrubs can provide a interchangeable outcome in the right location . mix in and mate to strain the spring blooming season .
Using Lilac Lookalikes in the Landscape
Here are some tips for working these lilac lookalikes into your yard :
Use compact multifariousness like Meyer lilac and Bloomerang in moulding , rock ‘n’ roll gardens and container .
Plant reblooming case where you’re able to enjoy their sporadic late efflorescence .
Feature fragrant species like Peking lilac and Korean Spice near patios or walk .
Grow larger variety like French and onetime - fashioned lilac in backyard since they can circulate wide .
Mix purpleness and lily-white lilac lookalikes together for a play on the traditional compounding .
Blend with other spring - blooming shrub like viburnum , spirea and quince .
Underplant with lightbulb and perennial like peonies , iris and poppies .
With so many choice , you may find a lilac lookalike cut to any size or expressive style garden . influence them into live beds or display them in pots on porches and patios . Soon you ’ll forget you do n’t have real lilacs !
FAQs About Lilac Lookalike Bushes
place gardeners often have circumstances of questions when essay lilac option . Here are some ordinarily asked interrogation :
Are there dwarf lilac bushes?
Yes , dwarf options like Meyer lilac ‘ Palibin ’ , Bloomerang , Miss Kim and Dwarf Korean Spice lilac get on at just 3 - 6 feet , unadulterated for small blank space .
What shrub looks like a lilac but blooms yellow?
Spirea , beautybush and Scotch Scots heather have lilac - corresponding efflorescence in white-livered or gold shades . Some weigela and forsythia variety also give rise lily-livered flowers .
Is there a white lilac bush?
Syringa pekinensis and some cultivars of S. vulgaris produce white lilac blossom . Korean Spice bush also has creamy white efflorescence .
Do any shrubs smell like lilacs?
Most option partake in the distinctive lilac fragrancy . Beautybush , Korean Spice bush , Bloomerang and Meyer lilac have noticeably fragrant flowers .
Lilac Landscaping Ideas – Smaller Lilacs for more variety and color?
Need a ladder to get to your lilacs ? Here are some dwarf lilac that wo n’t get too big . The vulgar lilac , Syringa vulgaris , grows to be 12 to 20 feet tall and 8 to 15 feet wide when it ’s fully grown . A full choice is S. meyeri ‘ Palibin ’ , a compact 4 - 5 invertebrate foot cultivar of Korean lilac . Or Also , The Bloomerang lilacs ( S. x ‘ Bloomerang ’ , ‘ Bloomerang Purple ’ ) were developed using S. meyerii as a parent and are a great , short 3 - 4 foundation alternative .
Syringa meyeri ‘ Palibin ’ has pallid pink , fragrant bloom that bloom profusely in late spring . As a bonus , its foliage is quite resistant to powdery mould . Full sunshine , USDA zona 4 - 7 .
Bloomerang lilacs ( Syringa x ‘ Bloomerang ’ , ‘ Bloomerang Purple ‘ ) are a not bad 3 to 4 foot option to the larger and more mildew - prostrate usual lilac , S. vulgaris . Another plus is their sporadic re - bloom throughout the summertime and into fall . Full sunshine , USDA Zones 4 - 7 .
What looks like an arborvitae (but offers something better)?
Juniper is my personal preferent arborvitae alternative . Juniperus virginiana ( or eastern red cedar ) is also aboriginal and allow for a wide-ranging grain . It does n’t farm as speedily and does upright where it ’s dry ( juniper turns brown when it gets too wet ) . I also screw Juniperus scopulorum ‘ Wichita Blue . ’ This tree diagram is n’t native to New England , but it is aboriginal to the bouldered mountain area where I farm up . I love this tree for how tough it is and how beautiful its blue leg are .
