Syringa vulgaris 'KATHERINE HAVEMEYER' common lilac
Syringa
Lilacs are common shrubs of European gardens. Their flowering highlights month of May offering many shades of pink, purple and violet, and also white. They are low maintenance plants which is why you can see them in so many landscapes.
Katherine Havemeyer lilac is another unique double-flowering variety producing much darker coloured buds than opened flowers. Its panicles can be erect or slightly pendent, they are shorter than those on other common lilacs, composed of dark lilac-violet buds which open into soft lilac pink, sweetly fragrant flowers from late April until mid May. Pruning is not needed but can be made immediately after flowering. Deadheading is recommended for young plants. Bred by famous French botanist Emile Lemoine from Nancy in 1922.
Lilacs are easy to grow. They will take almost any soil but will thrive in deep, fertile, well-drained soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline. They respond well to hard pruning. Adult plants often make suckers forming an even denser, multi-stemmed shrub. Unwanted spreading needs to be controlled by digging the suckers out. Fully hardy to about -37°C (USDA zone 3).
Last update 15-05-2019
