Graham Rice just did a post about the always lovely Centranthus ruber, or Jupiter’s beard. I have a lilac/lavender variety that I have only ever seen once. I wish now that I had bought every one I saw. But this one is quite tough and self-sows just like the others, so I’ve been moving the seedlings around my garden just to make sure I’ve got back-ups.
A friend saw this in my garden and gasped and said, "Where did you GET that?" I had to break the news to her that she was married to the owner of the nursery where I bought it.
It’s truly a lilac color, not the common rosy pink. Here’s
another photograph of it with one of the rosier versions in front for contrast. Click to enlarge the photos.