In the spring, after transplanting and during colder and Rainier weather most hardies tend to lighten in color and start looking similar. I've seen Mayla ,fire opal and Peter Slocum growing together in a cool valley pond in spring where they all looked so similar and light colored it was hard to tell them apart. My neighbor who owns the pond said " Whats the point of planting different varieties when they all look the same"
Of course a couple of weeks later when it warmed and the plants started to settle down it became obvious who was who.
The interesting thing to me is that early season flowers often lack much of their unique petal shapes and subtle color characteristics that distinguishes them and they look like run of the mill flowers. not just faded versions of what they will become as the season progresses.
The same thing happens with seedlings. Their first flowers never really show what they're potential is and they slowly mature in both shape and color for at least 2 years. In my opinion.
Odorata heritage pinks do this the most but even Alba heritage plants are lighter in spring. and after transplanting.
It's like when coming out of dormancy or or being transplanted the plants experience a new beginning , a new childhood where the are again growing into there full expression and potential.
I have a pink oderata that blooms more than any other odorata type that I know and has fiery red orange stamens but early in the year the stamens are only orange and yellow And seem to darken all summer. But the petals are always hot pink even early in the season
Here is a pic.
