Ludwig Spaeth Lilac
Syringa vulgaris 'Ludwig Spaeth'
Planting & Care
Planting & Care
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Preorder Shipping Schedule
We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.
| Zone 3-4 | Week of March 30th |
| Zone 5 | Week of March 16th |
| Zone 6-12 | Week of March 2nd |
Shipping Rates
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Our Container Sizes
At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes
Quart
Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.
#1 Container
Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.
#2 Container
Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.
#3 Container
Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.
#5 Container and Larger
Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.
Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?
Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.
Root Pouch Containers
Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:
- Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
- Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.
Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.
Full Root Pouch planting guide
Choosing the Right Size
| Size | Plant Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Quart | 6 mo to 1 yr | Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings. |
| #1 Container | 1 to 2 yrs | Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners. |
| #2 Container | 2 to 3 yrs | Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment. |
| #3 Container | 3 to 4 yrs | Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size. |
| #5 and larger | 4+ yrs | Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact. |
Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Description
Love that Lilac season! Spring is peaking, and you've pulled out your shorts and sandals. Fire up the barbeque and get your friends and family over for fun outside.
Add a late-blooming variety to squeeze a few more weeks of Lilac blooms. Ludwig Spaeth Lilac (Syringa vulgaris 'Ludwig Spaeth') keeps the good times going. Ludwig Spaeth is a French Hybrid Lilac that was first introduced in 1883. It's a gorgeous late bloomer that has perfumed gardens for well over a hundred years. Ludwig features huge clusters of beautiful deep purple-red blooms on a deciduous shrub. No wonder this reliable variety is a highly sought-after classic.
Let these handsome, time-tested shrubs perfume your space and give your shade and a private screen. You'll love the easy-care show put on by Ludwig Spaeth Lilac. Ludwig Spaeth really starts its show well after other Lilacs are nearly done blooming. Use Ludwig as the relay anchor, swimming the last lap to bring home the gold.
With lustrous, heart-shaped foliage and an upright, multi-stemmed growth habit, Lilacs are a workhorse for your landscape! The blooms make excellent cut flowers for indoor arrangements. Just a few will perfume your entire house. The purple flowers also entice butterflies and beneficial pollinators to come for nectar. This is a choice to feel good about. It's hard to find an easier, hardier flowering shrub.
Planting and Application:
Create a Lilac collection for non-stop spring blooms that smell amazing. Whether you have room for a long Lilac hedge or must pick and choose for a small yard, Ludwig Spaeth Lilac comes through in the end as a fantastic accent and focal point.
Run a hedge along the length of your fence to extend the height and boost your privacy. Create a sanctuary by spacing plants five feet apart on center, measuring from the center of one to the center of the next. Ludwig should be added to the sunny side of established windbreaks and evergreen trees. You'll add scent, color and even motion with large blooms that catch and twirl in the wind.
Ludwig Spaeth is a springtime stand-out at the back of a perennial border. After the dramatic purple blooms are done, the restfully attractive green leaves allow other plants to shine. Anchor your foundation planting bed with one at the corner of your home. Extend the mulch to surround it for a very polished look that requires little care.
Ludwig grows into a marvelous screening shrub. Plant one in the lawn, and place a hammock stand and outdoor table in its shade for a relaxing nook. Modern lots live large when they are thoughtfully turned into a series of garden rooms. Ludwig Spaeth can play the role of a outdoor room divider. Even one can separate an area for entertaining from a private retreat. Go ahead and carve out a secluded spot for yourself.
Add several to a sunny glen in a woodland garden. You'll be surprised how desirable a destination an informal grouping can become once that spring fragrance starts its clarion call.
Plant several in a wide semi-circle to enclose a reading bench. Encourage young kids to read the classics surrounded by their stylish greenery and fantastic flowers. You'll help create memories that last a lifetime.
- Dark Purple-Red Blooms & Extremely Fragrant
- Showy Flowering French Hybrid
- Easily Extend Your Lilac Season - Blooms a Bit Later than Other Varieties
- Heart-Shaped Leaves
- Valuable Nectar Source for Butterflies & Hummingbirds
- Living Walls for Outdoor Garden Rooms
- Specimen, Marvelous Hedges & Cut Flowers
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Ludwig Spaeth blooms best in full sun so give Ludwig at least six hours of direct sunlight a day for best results. Well-drained soil is a must. If you need to improve the rate of speed that water evaporates or drains away, bring in additional dirt for a raised bed. Mound up 18 inches high by three feet wide.
Lilacs need a medium amount of water on a regular basis, especially during bloom time. While they will tolerate periodic drought as mature plants, we recommend you protect your plant with plenty of water. Mulch over the root system to keep it cool, and it breaks down to lowly improve the health of your soil over time.
Disease and deer-resistant so you'll be saved the time and trouble of dealing with costly measures to keep it safe from harm. If you live with deer in your area, apply repellent spray on planting day. Deer are hungry and curious, and you want to train them to leave your plants alone. Reapply according to the label.
Take care when applying lawn fertilizers near flowering shrubs. These high nitrogen formulas are designed to produce foliage, but will not support flower development. Instead, apply an all-purpose fertilizer for blooming plants in early spring. Reapply in mid-summer, following label directions for application rates.
Don't miss a single bloom! Follow these easy Pruning steps for the best flowering:
Immediately after the flowers finish, get outside with your pruning loppers. Don't wait, or you'll risk missing out on next year's blooms.
Snip the past blooms, and correct for shape at this time. Remove a few of the thickest stems out at the ground level to keep your shrub young and vibrant. Trim back stems that head into the middle of the canopy. The goal is to open up the shrub to good air circulation and more sunshine.
- Full Sun
- Well-Drained Enriched Soil
- Moderate Moisture & Mulched Beds
- Prune Immediately After Flowering
- Very Cold Hardy
Extend your Lilac season with this beauty! Place your order for Ludwig Spaeth Lilac today for outstanding performance and fragrant, dark purple single blooms. Ludwig Spaeth Lilac has graced so many gardens before yours. Breathe deep and place your order with pride at your marvelous choice of blooming Lilac, now available at NatureHills.com!
Specifications
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Height
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Width
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Sunlight
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Growth RateModerate
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Flower Color
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Leaf Color
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FragrantYes
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Bloom PeriodLate Spring
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Does Not Ship ToAK, HI, ID, MT
Characteristics

