Syringa meyeri microphylla Tinkerbelle - Lilac

The Syringa Tinkerbelle (Syringa x 'Bailbelle') is a variety of dwarf lilac, flowering abundantly in spring and well-suited to small spaces and fairly dry soils in summer. It is a bushy and compact shrub with a profusion of small clusters of wine-red buds and much lighter pink florets, creating a beautiful two-tone effect. The distinctive flowers also give off an unusual but very pleasant fragrance with spicy notes. The foliage of this lilac, finer than that of traditional varieties, adds a lovely fresh touch in summer. It can be planted as a free-standing specimen, in a bed, in a small flowering hedge or even in a large pot on the terrace.

The Tinkerbelle lilac belongs to the Oleaceae family. It is an exceptional hybrid obtained by crossing Syringa meyeri and S. microphylla. This variety naturally forms a rounded, compact and branching bush, almost as wide as it is tall. It grows up to 2m (6.5ft) in height and 1.50m (5ft) in spread when fully grown, most often reaching 1.75m (5.8 ft) in height. Its grows quite slowly, benefitting from a moist, rich, soil.  This variety flowers abundantly from a very young age, in April-May, a few days before the common lilacs, in the form of pleasantly fragrant pyramidal thyrses, 10 to 14 cm (3.9 - 5.5 in) long, composed of small, single flowers, pale pink with reddish-pink undersides, emerging from claret-red buds.  These inflorescences are grouped in bunches at the tips of the previous year's shoots. The flowers attract many butterflies and pollinating insects. Its deciduous foliage is composed of small, medium green, elliptical leaves, 2 to 4 cm (0.8 - 1.6 in) long. They turn yellow in autumn before falling off.

Fragrance, flowers, childhood memories or even symbollic of an important event - everyone has a good reason to love lilacs, which are as endearing as they are unpretentious. Lilac 'Tinkerbelle' is at home in a small garden or on a terrace, wherever space is at a premium. Perfectly hardy, easy to grow in ordinary, well-drained soil, even in cold or dry regions. It is undemanding and adapts to all garden styles and climates. It is a major component in the creation of a scented garden, flowering alongside the cytisus and pink or white broom. It can also be planted in groups, individually or as a loose hedge mixed with other species (flowering apple trees, Japanese cherry trees, Chinese almond trees, forsythia, Japanese quince trees, Deutzias, etc.). Its deliciously fragrant clusters are a welcome addition to spring bouquets, along with the first garden irises, early peonies, bellflowers and florists' ranunculus.