Lilac of the week

This week's feature is President Lincoln (Syringa vulgaris). Named for Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), 16th president of the U.S., this tall, leafy grower blooms with large wedgewood blue trusses. Pinkish buds open to tubular flowers that burst into large, dense, conical-shaped clusters with a captivating fragrance. Fast growing, it reaches a height of 8 to 10 feet and a width of 10 feet. Bred in the U.S., this mildew-resistant French hybrid is a good grower that produces basal shoots readily adding to the density of the plant. A popular selection since it was introduced in 1916, it is one of 16 cultivars available at the Lombard Garden Club Lilac Sale, Sept. 10-12. For more information, visit www.lombardgardenclub.org/lilac-sale.html.