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Native Plant Database

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Polygala paucifolia (Gaywings)
Sherman, Doug

Polygala paucifolia Willd.

Gaywings, Fringed Polygala

Polygalaceae (Milkwort Family)

USDA Symbol: POPA5

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A low plant, flowering from prostrate, underground stems and rootstocks, with pink flowers tinged with purple in the axils of clustered upper leaves.

This exquisite Orchid-like wildflower resembles a tailless, tiny airplane. It was thought that, if eaten by nursing mothers or fed to cows, Milkworts would increase milk production.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CT , DE , GA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: MB , NB
Native Distribution: Manitoba to New Brunswick; south through New England, and inland to Virginia and the mountains of Georgia; west to Tennessee, northern Illinois, Minnesota, and Manitoba.
Native Habitat: Rich, moist woods.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Soil Moisture: Moist
Conditions Comments: The plant keeps one fertile flower buried on a stem, used for propagation.(Andy Fyon)

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Enchanter's Garden - Hinton, WV
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

* The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-10-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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