Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Share

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:
Polygala cruciata (Drumheads)
Fannon, Carolyn

Polygala cruciata

Polygala cruciata L.

Drumheads, Candy Root, Crossleaf Milkwort, Cross-leaved Milkwort

Polygalaceae (Milkwort Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: POCR

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Candy Root requires moisture and is found primarily on the coastal plains. It grows up to 12+ inches high and has few branches. The narrow leaves are in whorls of 4. Flowers are usually pink or purplish, occasionally white, and grow in a compact cluster, 1 1/2 inches in diameter, around the upper 2-3 inches of the stem.

 

From the Image Gallery

8 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 20 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Flowers are usually pink or purplish, occasionally white.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: OBL OBL FACW OBL FACW FACW
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS

Bibliography

Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Polygala cruciata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Polygala cruciata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Polygala cruciata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-01
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back