Polygala myrtifolia in bloom

Credit: Kousvet

Purple flowers Polyvala myrtifolia

Credit: Marktee1

Flowers and leaves Polygala myrtifolia

Credit: Maja Dumat

Green leaves, purple flowers Polygala myrtifolia

Credit: Delso

Polygala myrtifolia foliage

Credit: Di Turner

Polygala myrtifolia, myrtle-leaved polygala

Few plants flower all year round, or almost all year round, especially outdoors! Polygala myrtifolia manages the feat of being in flower ten months out of twelve. From March to December, this shrub from South Africa, a member of the Polygalaceae family, brightens up the garden with its violet flowers.

How to recognize the myrtle-leaved polygale, Polygala myrtifolia?

A dense, rounded, upright shrub, Polygala myrtifolia grows to no more than two meters in all directions.

Its slightly leathery leaves are dark green on the upper surface and lighter green on the underside. They are oval to elliptical, with a pointed apex and pronounced midrib. Blades are up to five centimetres long.

Myrtle-leaved polygale flowers almost all year round. Flowering is particularly abundant between May and October. Bouquets of violet or purple-pink flowers open at the tips of the twigs. Each flower has two lateral sepals, a lower petal and a tuft of white stamens.

In the presence of pollinators, the flowers give rise to the fruit. But the winged capsule often goes unnoticed amid the dense foliage and flowering.

As with polygala fruticosa, the toxicity of Polygala myrtifolia is not well documented. According to some, ingesting the plant may cause digestive disorders, such as vomiting and nausea. For others, myrtle-leaved polygala is harmless. It's best not to take any risks, and to keep your shrub out of the reach of pets and young children.

Our maintenance tips

Polygala myrtifolia do not need pruning. You can, however, shorten branches and remove dead wood to work the shape of the plant. But be careful when you cut: woody stems do not regrow!

Watering

Polygala myrtifolia are the enemy of excess water. Before giving your specimen a drink, always make sure the soil is at least five centimetres dry.

Like many plants, the plant prefers rainwater. But it's fine with tap water. Just make sure it's at room temperature.

Remove any water stagnating in the cup under the pot. It can rot the roots.

Spray

Your polygala myrtifolia hates wet foliage. You must not mist the plant.

Repotting

Get a pot with holes larger than the root ball. You can add a layer of clay balls to the bottom to optimize drainage.

Ifyou don't have any, you can use potting soil. Plant your Myrtle-leaved Polygale in the center. Fill in with your substrate without burying the crown.

Water with room-temperature water to expel air bubbles and help the plant take root.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the growth of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Fertilize your Myrtle-leaved Polygale every month. Use a flowering plant fertilizer to stimulate flowering.

Put compost at the foot of your Myrtle-leaved Polygale to stimulate its growth.

Plantation

Soak your Polygala myrtifolia. Meanwhile, dig a hole twice the size of the root ball. You can place gravel at the bottom to improve drainage.

Plant your Polygala myrtifolia. The collar should reach ground level. Fill the hole with garden soil. But you can also add sand if your soil is heavy, or potting soil if it's poor.

Water generously to encourage rooting and remove air bubbles.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Use a clean, sharp tool to remove a soft branch about ten centimeters long. Cut just below a node to encourage root growth.

Remove the lower leaves. You can also reduce the size of the limbs you keep by half.

Plant your cutting in a pierced pot lined with potting soil for seedlings and plantations. Spray the substrate with non-calcareous water.

The graft takes better in a stifled environment. Cover the plant with a translucent plastic bag or cloche.

Place your young plant in a bright room where the temperature is between 20 and 25°.

The appearance of new leaves indicates that your cutting is taking root.

Diseases / Threats

Aphids

Whiteflies

Information

Family	Polygalaceae - Polygalaceae
Type	Polygala - Polygala
Species	Myrtle-leaved Polygale - Polygala myrtifolia
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting methods	Open ground In tubs
Categories	Shrub Flowery
Tags	Beginner Flowery Toxic
Origin	South Africa
Hardiness (USDA)	9b
Leaf color
Flower color