Empress Tree vs Katherine Havemeyer Lilac - TreeTime.ca

Empress Tree vs Katherine Havemeyer Lilac

Paulownia tomentosa

Syringa vulgaris Katherine Havemeyer

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Empress Tree
Katherine Havemeyer Lilac

The Empress Tree is a fast growing, ornamental shade tree. It has purple, fragrant flowers that are quite attractive. The flowers emerge before the leaves in early spring. The leaves of this tree can grow very large, up to 30 cm long.

As one of the fastest growing trees in the world, this tree has been given considerable attention for carbon sequestration projects. It drops many seeds which can make it invasive in warmer climates. Please do some research and plant the right tree in the right place.

The Empress tree’s genus name comes from Princess Paulowna, daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia.

Katherine Havemeyer Lilac is a cold hardy French lilac known for its highly fragrant, double flowers. The buds start as a lavender-purple and give way to soft pink blooms that have double the number of petals compared to other Lilacs. The flowers bloom in late spring and can last up to 3-4 weeks.

The Katherine Havemeyer lilac, like other lilacs, is deer-resistant. The flowers are known for attracting hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators to your landscape.

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Katherine Havemeyer Lilac Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 3a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 2.7 m (9 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: high
Maintenance: medium


Flowers: light purple
Flowers: pink to light purple
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia
Other Names: katherine havemeyer french lilac