President Lincoln Lilac

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

8-10 Feet

Mature Spread

8-10+ Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 7

Known for its stunning blue flowers, the President Lincoln Lilac is an old favorite. Syringa vulgaris 'President Lincoln' as it is also known, is a deciduous shrub up to 10 feet tall that produces the bluest of lilac flowers. Wonderfully fragrant, President Lincoln should be grown where its flowers can be enjoyed up close and clipped for a vase.  

The President Lincoln Lilac is a vigorous grower that blooms in late spring. Its heart-shaped green leaves are attractive in their own right, but its panicles of flowers are the star of the show. This lilac is hardy in zones 3 to 7 and deer resistant. President Lincoln makes a stunning specimen to plant at the back of a border or use in an informal, yet delightful hedge.

President Lincoln Lilac Care

The President Lincoln Lilac prefers full sun to produce the showiest panicles. It requires a free-draining soil that is fertile and either neutral or alkaline. It will also tolerate a chalky substrate. Water the soil deeply to help this lilac establish and keep the foliage dry, as wet foliage may encourage mildew. Mulch annually with compost to provide a boost in nutrition and fertilize sparingly, if at all. 

Pruning is best performed immediately after flowering has finished. Remove all spent blooms and cut back up to one-third of the oldest stems to the ground.  

President Lincoln Lilac Spacing

Over time, the President Lincoln Lilac can grow to 8 to 10 feet tall and wide. A minimum spacing of 10 feet between plants is advisable to promote good air circulation and prevent disease.