Overview & Description

The Katherine Havemeyer Lilac (Syringa vulgaris ‘Katherine Havemeyer’) is a classic, elegant French hybrid shrub renowned for its stunning display of fragrant, fully double flowers. The blooms emerge from purple-pink buds, opening to large, dense panicles of lavender-purple that fade to soft lilac-pink. This award-winning cultivar, introduced in 1922 by Victor Lemoine, offers a rich, sweet perfume that attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Its heart-shaped, dark green foliage provides a lovely backdrop and may turn yellow in autumn.

Growth & Size

This variety exhibits an upright, multi-stemmed, bushy growth habit that becomes spreading with age. It is a medium to fast-growing shrub, typically reaching a mature size of about 8 to 10 feet in height with a similar spread of 6 to 10 feet.

Additional Notes

It blooms in late spring for 3-4 weeks, and the flowers are excellent for cutting. It thrives in full sun and well-drained, alkaline to neutral soil, is low-maintenance, and deer resistant. It has good resistance to powdery mildew. An outstanding choice for borders, hedges, or as a fragrant specimen where timeless beauty and nostalgic charm are desired.