From the mountains of northeastern China and the Korean peninsula comes one of the most adaptable lilacs in cultivation. Syringa pubescens subsp. patula earns its common name from the fine hairs covering both leaf surfaces, a detail easy to miss when the lavender-to-ice-blue flower clusters are the main attraction. Those panicles carry a spicier, more complex scent than common lilac, and the blooms make exceptional cut flowers. The RHS Award of Garden Merit reflects the consistent performance gardeners have come to expect from this subspecies, particularly the widely grown cultivar Miss Kim.

At 4 to 9 feet, this is a genuinely compact shrub for tight spots in zones 3 through 8. It tolerates black walnut toxicity, which opens planting opportunities many shrubs cannot claim. Prune immediately after flowering since it blooms on old wood, and do not be tempted to cut it hard or the following season will disappoint. The three-season interest, fragrant spring bloom, tidy summer habit, and fiery fall color, makes it one of the more complete small shrubs available for the northern and mid-Atlantic garden.