Red Osier Dogwood vs Katherine Havemeyer Lilac - TreeTime.ca

Red Osier Dogwood vs Katherine Havemeyer Lilac

Syringa vulgaris Katherine Havemeyer

Cornus sericea

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Katherine Havemeyer Lilac
Red Osier Dogwood

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.

Red Osier Dogwood is a small deciduous shrub that features deep red stems and twigs year-round, with creamy white flowers in the spring. This shrub will add a nice pop of color to your yard.

Red Osier Dogwood is an excellent soil stabilizer. It is fast growing and becomes drought tolerant once well established.

Katherine Havemeyer Lilac Quick Facts

Red Osier Dogwood Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 4 m (12 ft)
Height: 2.7 m (9 ft)
Spread: 2.7 m (9 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: dark red
Bark: dark red, showy
Flowers: pink to light purple
Flowers: white
Berries: white waxy
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


In row spacing: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: katherine havemeyer french lilac
Other Names: american dogwood, california dogwood, creek dogwood, dogberry tree, red dogwood, red twig dogwood, redosier dogwood, redstem dogwood, western dogwood