Prairie Petite is a genuinely dwarf lilac, a dense, rounded shrub of just 2 to 4 feet that covers itself with soft pink flower clusters in spring. It brings lilac bloom down to a scale that fits a small yard, a border, or a large container, and butterflies and hummingbirds both visit.

Give it full sun and well-drained soil on the neutral to sweet side; lilacs dislike acid, soggy ground, so a little lime helps in our red clay. Prune right after flowering if needed, since next spring's buds form during summer.