Is Woodland Phlox delicate?

[LeeAnne151]

I bought a variegated woodland Phlox at a plant sale recently and I'm not sure if I should plant it or keep it in a pot for now. The area that I want to plant it is infested with Lily of the Valley. I have been digging it up but I'm sure it will sprout anew in Spring and I'm afraid the little Phlox will get smothered. This is the first time I've seen the East Coast native plant here, I've only seen it in books before and have no clue about it.

[JoshS]

I wouldn't call Phlox divaricata a pest, but it does spread around a bit.  I never find any plants among the Sweet Woodruff or Wild Ginger, though, so that leads me to think that it could easily be smothered.  Still, not a delicate plant...not sure about the variegated form, though.

[LeeAnne151]

I might pot it then and wait for spring to see how LOV I managed to clear. There is sweet woodruff in that bed too. Thanks

[JoshS]

Good luck!  It is a nice splash of color first thing in the spring.  I'd like to try the variegated form.

[LeeAnne151]

It has pink on the new growth, I tried to post the link to the mail order nursery I bought it from but their site is down.

[Johns]

LeeAnne,

If you have some shady natural aera, do you have Wood Poppy? (Stylophorum diphyllum).

I have loads of it if you would like some.