President Poincare Lilac

President Poincare Lilac (Syringa vulgaris 'President Poincare')

President Poincare Lilac, Syringa vulgaris 'President Poincare', is a classic French hybrid lilac admired for its richly colored purple red flower clusters and strong, nostalgic fragrance on a substantial upright shrub. In mid to late spring, the branch tips are loaded with long, conical trusses of blooms that stand out boldly against fresh green foliage and show beautifully in both bright sun and evening light. The tall, multi stemmed habit gives real presence in the landscape, making President Poincare an easy choice wherever you want a striking spring focal point that also delivers scent. Planted near paths, patios, or open windows, it quickly becomes a seasonal highlight you look forward to year after year.

Distinctive Features

President Poincare Lilac typically grows about 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, forming an upright, rounded shrub on multiple trunks. Buds open to single, four petaled flowers in deep purple red tones that read as saturated color from a distance, giving the bloom trusses a dramatic look in the garden. The fragrance is strong and sweet in the traditional lilac style, especially noticeable on cool mornings and evenings when the air is still. Heart shaped green leaves emerge with the spring flush and remain attractive through summer, providing a leafy backdrop for perennials and smaller shrubs once the flower show has finished and helping this lilac serve as a structural anchor 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 traditionally perform, 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: Site near patios, decks, or main walkways where the richly colored flower clusters and fragrance can be enjoyed at close range.
• 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 blue 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 rich 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 Poincare Lilac?

• Rich Bloom Color: Deep purple red flower clusters provide stronger, more dramatic color than many standard lilacs and read clearly from a distance.
• Classic Lilac Fragrance: Strong, sweet perfume turns paths, patios, and open windows into scented spring experiences.
• Timeless Garden Style: Upright, rounded habit and clean green foliage fit naturally into cottage, farmhouse, and heritage inspired landscapes.
• Excellent for Cutting: Long, flower laden stems are ideal for generous spring bouquets and simple vases indoors.
• Reliable Garden Anchor: With good sun, drainage, and timely pruning, President Poincare Lilac returns year after year as a durable source of color, scent, and structural backbone in sunny borders, informal screens, and classic mixed shrub plantings.

With its richly colored spring blooms, powerful fragrance, and substantial upright habit, President Poincare Lilac is an excellent choice for adding a bold spring focal point, fragrant cut flowers, and long lasting structure to sunny gardens and outdoor living spaces.