Madame Lemoine White Lilac vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree) - TreeTime.ca

Madame Lemoine White Lilac vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)

Catalpa speciosa

Syringa vulgaris Madame Lemoine

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)
Madame Lemoine White Lilac

Northern Catalpa is a striking feature tree with showy flowers, and very large leaves. Its orchid-like flowers are white with yellow and purple accents, and they have a pleasant fragrance. They bloom from late spring to early summer and can last up to two weeks, attracting hummingbirds and pollinators. The leaves are very large, ranging from 15-30 cm long, 12-20 cm wide, forming a canopy that makes it a good shade tree.

They can tolerate dry conditions as well as standing water, air pollution, and salt. These factors and its beauty contribute to its growing popularity as both a boulevard and ornamental tree in colder areas.

Northern Catalpa produces long bean-like capsules and are sometimes called the Cigar Tree in reference to this fruit.

Madame Lemoine White Lilac is great for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Winner of the Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, the Madame Lemoine White Lilac has fragrant white flowers that are great for cutting and blue-green foliage that turns yellow in the fall. This attractive shrub is also deer resistant.

Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree) Quick Facts

Madame Lemoine White Lilac Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 3a
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: high
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: high


Flowers: white
Flowers: white, fragrant
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: cigar tree, hardy catalpa, western catalpa
Other Names: madame lemoine french lilac, mme lemoine lilac