Polygala grandiflora nana

Polygala grandiflora nana

I bought this evergreen shrub as Polygala grandiflora nana 'Little Charmer' (ht 1 m) - said to be a compact cultivar of the shrub known as milkwort. I am not really sure if this is the correct name - the genus Polygala is large and confusing! There are a number of cultivars of this plant around: this one was recommended to me by a friend, as some of the others self-seed to a nuisance level (certainPolygala are actually regarded as noxious weeds) and this one is said not to. The rich purple, pea-like flowers with prominent white fringes of stamens appear in late winter and spring, and there are usually some flowers are to be found on the shrub right through till autumn. This plant enjoys a dry, sunny position. It grows well in coastal regions. I clip mine back after flowering to make it more compact, as it can get a bit straggly if left unpruned. It can be cut back quite hard. It is said to be frost tolerant, This genus belongs to the Polygalaceae family.