Milkwort

Milkwort (Polygala) - The hardy Milkworts are neat dwarf plants, with flowers much resembling those of the Pea family. P. Chamaebuxus (Box-leaved Milkwort) is a little creeping shrub from the Alps of Austria and Switzerland, where it often remains quite tiny. In gardens, on peaty soil and fine sandy loams, it spreads out into compact tufts covered with cream-colored and yellow flowers. The variety purpurea is prettier; the flowers are a lovely bright magentapurple, with a clear yellow centre. It succeeds in any sandy, well-drained soil. P. paucifolia is a handsome N. American trailer, 3 to 4 inches high, with slender prostrate shoots and concealed flowers. From these shoots spring stems, bearing in summer one to three handsome flowers about three-quarters of an inch long, generally rosy-purple, but sometimes white. It is suited for the rock garden, in moist leaf-mould and sand. The finest of the American kinds is lutea, with bright yellow flowers, but this is still very scarce with us. Some of the British Milkworts, especially P. calcarea and vulgaris, are interesting and easily grown in sunny chinks of the rock garden if in calcareous soil. They form neat dressy tufts of blue, purple-pink, and white flowers. Seed may be gathered from wild plants and sown in sandy soil.

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