Description
The ‘Katherine Havemeyer’lilac is a heritage variety admired for its abundant bloom and strong fragrance. In May, it produces large clusters of double lilac-violet flowers, turning the shrub into a romantic spring highlight. Each cluster releases a sweet, lingering perfume, making the flowers perfect for cut arrangements.
This hardy and vigorous shrub forms a dense, rounded habit, suitable for a fragrant hedge or as a stand-alone specimen. With its resilience to cold, adaptability to many soils, and ease of care, it remains a timeless favorite in both traditional and modern gardens.
Origin : French selection, late 19th century.
Family : Oleaceae.
Features : Double fragrant blooms, color shifts from bud to blossom, excellent hardiness.
Description : Deciduous shrub with rounded growth, abundant spring flowers, and decorative foliage.
Mature height : 3–4 m.
Mature spread : 2–3 m.
Habit : Dense, rounded, bushy.
Bark : Grey, slightly fissured with age.
Leaves : Heart-shaped, green, deciduous.
Growth rate : Medium to fast.
Hardiness : Down to –25 °C.
Flowering : May.
Buds : Mauve, opening into double lilac-violet blooms.
Scent : Strong, sweet, and lasting fragrance.
Ornamental value : Showy clusters, excellent for bouquets.
Exposure : Full sun, tolerates part shade but flowers best in sun.
Soil : Fertile, well-drained, lime-tolerant.
Advice : Plant in autumn or spring, add compost, water well.
Spacing : 2–3 m in hedges.
Young plants : Regular watering.
Mature shrubs : Low water needs, drought tolerant.
When : After flowering.
How : Remove faded clusters and old wood to encourage new shoots.
Methods : Grafting, suckers, layering.
Great for flowering hedges, as a specimen plant, or combined with roses and peonies.
Double, fragrant flowers for bouquets.
Attracts pollinators in spring.
Hardy and low-maintenance.
Choose a sunny site, prune lightly after bloom, mulch for nutrients and moisture.
Available in 1 litre jar here
Expédition & livraison
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