President Lincoln Lilac

President Lincoln Lilac (Syringa vulgaris 'President Lincoln')

President Lincoln Lilac, Syringa vulgaris 'President Lincoln', is a classic French hybrid lilac admired for its clear sky blue flower clusters and strong, old fashioned fragrance on a substantial upright shrub. In mid to late spring, buds open to cool blue lavender blooms that read as soft blue from a distance, lighting up sunny borders and drawing in bees and butterflies. Heart shaped green leaves fill out the framework once flowering begins, giving the plant a full, polished look through summer. Planted near paths, patios, or open windows, President Lincoln quickly becomes a spring focal point you look forward to every year.

Distinctive Features

President Lincoln Lilac typically grows about 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, forming an upright, multi stemmed shrub with a rounded outline. Large, conical trusses are packed with single, four petaled florets in clear sky blue to blue lavender tones, giving the bloom clusters a cool, refined look that stands out from deeper purple lilacs. Strong stems carry the flowers at the tips of the branches so the plant presents a sheet of color at eye level when in bloom. After the floral show, clean green foliage remains attractive, providing screening and a solid backdrop for perennials and smaller shrubs in sunny borders.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Thrives in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light daily for heavy flowering, strong stems, and reliable bud set.
• Soil: Prefers well drained, moderately fertile soil and performs best in neutral to slightly alkaline conditions, but adapts to most average garden soils that do not stay wet.
• Water: Water regularly during the first few seasons to establish a deep root system; once established, provide occasional deep soakings during extended dry periods rather than frequent light watering.
• Hardiness: Well suited to cold winter regions where lilacs are traditionally grown, as long as drainage is good and roots are not waterlogged.
• Size: Forms a substantial shrub about 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide at maturity, depending on climate, soil, and pruning.
• Growth Rate: Moderate grower that builds its main framework over several years and then settles into a steady pattern of spring bloom and summer foliage.

Ideal Uses

• Spring Feature Plant: Place near patios, decks, or main walkways where the sky blue flower clusters and fragrance can be enjoyed up close.
• Informal Screens and Hedges: Plant in a loose row or staggered grouping to create a seasonal privacy screen that flowers in spring and stays leafy through summer.
• Mixed Shrub Borders: Combine with pink and purple lilacs, viburnums, hydrangeas, and evergreens to build layered borders with strong structure and changing color throughout the year.
• Cottage and Homestead Gardens: Pair with peonies, irises, phlox, and other traditional perennials for a timeless country garden look with strong spring scent.
• Cut Flower Gardens: Grow near cutting beds so you can easily harvest long, blossom filled stems that bring soft blue color and fragrance indoors.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: After establishment, water during hot or very dry weather with deep, occasional soakings to keep roots hydrated without saturating the soil.
• Pruning: Prune just after flowering by removing spent flower clusters and thinning a few of the oldest stems at ground level to encourage vigorous new shoots and maintain a balanced shape; avoid heavy pruning in late summer or fall, which can reduce the next year's bloom.
• Fertilizing: In early spring, apply a light dose of balanced, slow release fertilizer or a layer of compost if soil is lean; avoid heavy nitrogen that pushes leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
• Mulching: Maintain a 2 to 3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch a few inches away from the main stems.
• Seasonal Care: Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter or right after bloom, and manage basal suckers based on whether you want a wider clump or a narrower outline.

Why Choose President Lincoln Lilac?

• Clear Sky Blue Blooms: Large, cool toned flower clusters offer a distinctive blue cast that stands out among more common purple lilacs.
• Classic Lilac Fragrance: Strong, sweet perfume turns paths, patios, and open windows into scented spring experiences.
• Timeless Garden Character: Upright, rounded habit and clean green foliage provide lasting height, screening, and backbone in sunny borders.
• Excellent for Cutting: Long stems with full flower trusses are ideal for generous, fragrant bouquets and simple vases indoors.
• Reliable Focal Point: With good sun, drainage, and timely pruning, President Lincoln Lilac returns year after year as a dependable focal point, adding cool color, scent, and structure to traditional borders, informal screens, and classic mixed shrub plantings.

With its soft sky blue blooms, powerful fragrance, and substantial upright habit, President Lincoln Lilac is an excellent choice for adding a standout spring focal point, fragrant cut flowers, and long lasting structure to sunny gardens and outdoor living spaces.