Katherine Havemeyer is a classic French hybrid lilac known for its large, double lavender-pink blooms and strong, sweet fragrance. The densely packed panicles appear in mid to late spring, opening from deep purple buds to reveal soft lavender double florets with a silvery-pink sheen—creating a lush, two-toned effect that’s both elegant and eye-catching.
This deciduous shrub has a strong, upright form and typically grows 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. It makes a beautiful specimen plant, flowering hedge, or focal point in a spring garden. Like most French lilacs, it thrives in full sun and well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil, and it benefits from light pruning immediately after bloom to encourage robust flowering the following year.
Key Features:
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Double lavender-pink flowers with deep purple buds
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Strong, classic lilac fragrance
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Blooms in mid to late spring
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Upright growth: 10–12 ft. tall, 6–8 ft. wide
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Attracts pollinators; excellent for cut flowers
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Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil
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Hardy in USDA Zones 3–8
Katherine Havemeyer combines old-fashioned beauty with reliable performance, offering richly colored blooms and unforgettable fragrance year after year.