Plant of the Week: Polygala

Hi Plant Peeps! I'm back with another favorite plant. This week I will talk about Polygala. 

I can't recall where I first discovered this diminutive beauty but I bought my yellow-flowered Polygala chamaebuxus in 2014. It was a tiny thing and I feared it would be swallowed by its billowing neighbors thanks to my cram-scaping tendencies. So I put it in a pot and set it on a shelf on my patio next to the house where it received a bit of protection from the elements.

It started blooming in November and continued clear through the winter! 

The common name for this plant is Shrubby Milkwort which is kind of baffling since it is not shrubby, nor does it look the slightest bit milky.

Well, I guess you could say the white part of these two-tone flowers is milky. I'm not normally a fan of yellow flowers but this little winter bloomer brings a bit of cheer to the this gardener.

A bit of leaf damage here but it recovered

I think it was spider mites which happens when the plant doesn't get enough water.

Polygala chamaebuxus is evergreen and winter-hardy in Zones 4-9. How's that for winning attributes?

After falling in love with the yellow-flowered species, the purple and yellow-flowered Polygala chamaebuxus 'Kaminski' became a lust plant. Sadly, it was going for exorbitant prices, like $35.00 for a one gallon, small plant. 

I figured I'd wait for a more reasonable price. In 2016, Pat at Secret Garden Growers had it for sale so I purchased it from her. Thank you Pat for feeding my never-sated desire for plants.

Here it is, in bud. It looks very Daphne-like, doesn't it?

It's been my experience, as you can see below, that the purple flowers bloom a bit later than the yellow ones.

The yellow-flowered Polygala is almost finished while P. c. 'Kaminiski' is just starting. 

Did I mention these plants are slow-growing? Last spring I decided to plant them together in a shallow, wide pot. They seem happy here.

 

However, last summer I set the pot on the ground, away from the house. A few weeks ago I realized that this cooler location had stalled the blooming. So I moved it back on my patio. Buds are forming but it is way behind schedule. The above and below photos were taken last year. 

Lesson learned: Keep it close to the house where it receives a bit of warmth and it will be a true winter-bloomer. 

   

 There is a truly shrubby Polygala that is not winter-hardy here in the Pacific Northwest.

Polygala myrtifolia 'Mariposa' or Butterfly Sweat Pea Bush

In 2015, I bought Polygala myrtifolia 'Mariposa' on impulse while plant shopping at N&M Nursery in Hubbard. I knew it wasn't hardy and stupidly left it outside anyway. As I recall, it was a blooming machine, as many tropicals are, blooming right up until a cold spell devolved it to mush. My photos don't do it justice.

Information on several Polygala genera can be found on Plant Lust.

I hope you're enjoying these weekly installments. Thank you for commenting. 

April Showers

April has been super rainy in these parts. Record rainfall last weekend has brought all kinds of havoc with flooding in Corvallis.

My middle daughter and I walked around yesterday to get a glimpse of this historic event. Apparently in 1996, the water rose to about this same level. And apparently they didn't do enough to fix the high water issues. 

The only upside to all this water is that once it recedes it should expose some very pretty rocks.  And I've got some new boots for wading. More on that in a minute. But first, despite the rain, the plants are doing their spring thing.

My favorite Narcissus -- 'Geranium' ... so fragrant!

Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Clematis alpina 'Constance' is just starting to bloom

Last fall at the local nursery I picked up the below Clematis for $3.00. The label said C. 'Markham's Pink' which it clearly is not. But that's okay because I already have Markham anyway. (I couldn't pass up a bargain.) But what is the bargain's real identity? Hmm...

Mystery alpina Clematis

The Polygala are late to bloom this year. At least the yellow one is. It's kind of nice to see them bloom at the same time. And the early bumblebees (not pictured) love the flowers too. 

Polygala chamaebuxus and P. c. 'Kaminski' (the purple one)

 

Lathyrus vernus 'Albo Roseus' under a scattering of spent Star Magnolia petals

 And right beside the Lathyrus is the Pulsatilla.

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Red Bells'

Pulsatilla vulgaris 

A recent nursery visit and this Anisodontea just flew into my cart. This time I'm going to make a serious effort to winter it over successfully. 

Anisodentea x 'Tara's Pink'

I got this Butterfly Iris last fall from Pat at Secret Garden Growers. I still don't have it planted in the garden but it's blooming anyway.

Butterfly Iris ~ Iris x Nada

In the garden we've got some happy plants too. I'm really thankful for all of the new growth on this Daphne bholua.   

Daphne bholua

The burgundy foliage on the ornamental rhubarb is always so cool.

Rheum palmatum var. tanguiticum

 

Syneilesis palmata

Fritillaria meleagris in a sea of Oxalis oregana

 And now for some wide garden shots--the good and not so good.

If you look closely, you'll see a sapsucker in the neighbor's arborvitae. They seem to be nesting somewhere nearby because they're regular visitors now.

The aforementioned boots, remember? Well, I got an email from Emily at The Original Muck Book Company inviting me to sample a pair of boots of my choice. How cool is that? I thought the Women's Muckster II Clogs would be perfect for working in the garden, especially since the ones I've been using are toast. Aren't these perty?

Yes. I wore them out in the rain before taking these photos. (Wink). They felt great. Kind of springy and cushy and warm!

Emily was apparently feeling very generous because she also included the Women's Muckster II Mid!

I will be using these to wade in the rivers and creeks during my rock hounding adventures.

 

Thank you Emily. If you're looking for footwear, check out The Original Muck Boot Company. They have women's, men's and children's quality footwear.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you're getting spring weather in your neck of the woods.

The Proof is in the Banana!

If it weren't for this monster:

Hardy banana, (Musa basjoo) after a hard frost

...one would think we didn't even have a winter here in the Pacific Northwest. I mean, unlike the hardy banana's foliage--sad and brown from a cold snap in December--most plants haven't died back at all this winter, so far anyway. Next week's temps are predicted to be in the sixties and the more time that slips by, the less likely we are to have more cold weather. Fine by me. Spring? Bring it on!

Today's temperature on my patio.

Here are some bloomers in my garden:

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ruby Glow'

I admit I'm not a huge hellebore fan. I bought this one because of these delicious leaves. They always look fantastic.

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ruby Glow'

My 'Freckles' winter blooming Clematis has grown so high in the Viburnum that it's difficult to get a decent photo. But I'm not complaining.

Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles' on Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn'

Can you see the honeybee in the lower flower?

 

 These tiny flowers pack a powerful, delicious fragrance. 

Chimonanthus praecox -- oh so fragrant!

Chimonanthus praecox

And speaking of fragrance, the Daphne odoras are fixing to bloom!

Daphne odora

 Daphne odora 'Marianni'

 

And the Skimmia is also about ready to pop.

Skimmia japonica [Male]

My Sarcococca has been blooming since early January. It is so beautifully fragrant. 

Sarcococca ruscifolia

Sarcococca ruscifolia

This pretty Camellia sits outside in my courtyard and I see it every time I look up from my computer screen. I just love those summery-winter, bright pink blossoms.

Camellia sasanqua 'Shishi-Gashira'

Some of the early Crocus are blooming too!

Crocus and opportunist.

Crocus with emerging Galanthus

The Oxalis are super early. Most of them are like this one, still in full-leaf mode. 

 

Oxalis crassipes 'Rosea'

 

 With Viburnum tinus, the buds are as pretty as the flowers. 

Viburnum tinus buds

Viburnum tinus flowers

 Under my covered patio, my potted Farfugiums continue to look gorgeous.

Farfugium japonicum 'Argenteo Marginata' flowering!

Farfugium leaves...aren't they yummy?

I've had this Brachyscome overwinter for me several times. It's a tough "annual." 

Brachyscome 'Radiant Magenta'

A tiny fragrant Violet

Euphorbia 'Blackbird'

Primulas

This Polygala is late. Last year it started blooming in November and continued all through winter.  

Polygala chamaebuxus

 

 And here is my purple flowered Polygala not far behind, which is right on schedule for the late-winter bloomer. 

Polygala chamaebuxus 'Kaminski'

This amazing hardy geranium is already looking fab. 

Geranium x oxonianum 'Katherine Adele'

And finally, if you're still with me, all of my Allium schubertii are up and look promising. 

Allium schubertii

Thanks for visiting. I hope to get back to reading blogs this year 

to see how your garden is growing.