Syringa myerii 'Palibin' - small shiny leaves, no powdery mildew problem. The leaves look attractive all season. Blooms a little later than Syringa vulgaris and at VERY YOUNG age! I got mine as 6" cuttings from a friend. They started to bloom the very next season, 6" and all.

Beware: many people call it 'Miss Kim' but 'Miss Kim' it is not.

I don't know about MO, but here in zone 5/6 Ohio, all lilacs thrive, especially the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris. They are like weeds. They are still prone to powdery mildew if not given adequate sunlight... They also grow and flower best with a bit of lime in the soil. In my opinion, the Common lilac, though it does get large, is a better lilac than "Miss Kim". "Miss Kim" is an attractive plant, but it does not evoke the image of the lilac, as we know it.