Syringa 'Tinkerbelle' PP#12,294

Such rich color -- TWO bright colors! -- for mid- and late spring! 'Tinkerbelle' sports deep burgundy buds that open to dark pink, almost cerise-hued flowers. Add to this its dwarf size and terrific resistance to powdery mildew, and you've got one extra-beautiful, compact, hardworking little shrub for the sunny garden!

The show begins before the spring bulbs have passed, with masses of showy maroon buds all over this 4- to 6-foot tall, and wide shrub. One by one they open to colorful 3-inch clusters of dark pink flowers, wonderfully fragrant (with a rich spicy aroma) and magnificent to behold. When the shrub has both unopened buds and mature flowers at once, it's a two-toned showstopper!

Better disease resistance is a large part of 'Tinkerbelle's' garden appeal. Common Lilacs suffer from a host of pests, but not 'Tinkerbelle'! The best is its ability to combat powdery mildew, which makes Lilacs fail, especially in zones 6 and 7 where summers can be early and humid. If you've tried and failed with other varieties, 'Tinkerbelle' may just have the magic you've been looking for!

Very adaptable to unseasonable cold and even drought, 'Tinkerbelle' needs well-drained soil receiving plenty of sunshine but is otherwise not at all fussy. It forms a very compact, upright shrub that looks great in the foundation, as an accent planting in the patio, a specimen in the front yard, or even a low hedge! Free-blooming and superbly colorful, this fragrant joy belongs in a place of honor in your landscape! Space shrubs 4 to 5 feet apart; they don't like to be crowded. Zones 3-7.