Phlox divaricata 'Sweet Lilac': a better photo

I'm starting to get used to the weird colour, but I still wish it was the natural lavender colour instead.

Phlox divaricata 'Sweet Lilac' in bloom

Last year, we bought this woodland phlox (phlox bleu) at Valumart. It wasn't blooming, but based on the tag I thought it would look like the wild type. Unfortunately, now I find that it is this weird shade of magenta instead of the pretty lavender blue of the natural form. I guess that's what I get for trying to buy a native plant at a supermarket instead of a more reputable source.

It does smell nice, at least.

Phlox divaricata 'Sweet Lilac': new leaves!

I'm happy to see that the woodland phlox seems to be happy in the front garden—compare this photo to the photo I took a bit over a month ago just after buying it. The front garden has horrible soil and a lot of the new plants are unhappy (e.g. Athyrium niponicum, Hosta 'Orange Marmalade') or dead (R.I.P. Clematis virginiana which I just bought this spring from the High Park Volunteer Stewardship Program). I'm very glad that at least this pretty native is doing well. I'm looking forward to the blooms next spring!

Phlox divaricata 'Sweet Lilac': foliage

Phlox divaricata, known in English as "woodland phlox", "wild blue phlox", "wild sweet William", or "Louisiana blue phlox", and in French as phlox bleu, is a woodland perennial native to eastern North America. The wild type has five-petalled mauve flowers; cultivars are available in white, blue, and pink as well.

I'm hoping this cultivar, 'Sweet Lilac', will be similar to the wild type. My landlords' got it at Valumart on the Danforth.