Petite Butterfly Sweet Pea Shrub
Wed, 08/12/2009 - 8:56am — Kathy Ormiston
Photo Credit:
Kathy Ormiston, PADG
Botanical Name:
Polygala fruticosa 'Petite Butterfly'
Pronunciation:
(pol-ee-GAH-luh froo-tih-KOH-suh)
Common Name:
Petite Butterfly Sweet-Pea Shrub
Plant Type:
Shrub
Mature Size:
2 ft. to 3 ft. wide and tall
Water Requirements:
Moderate: water weekly until the root ball is wet
Sun/Shade Requirements:
Full to half sun
Flower Color :
Purplish pink
It's always nice to find a neat, round evergreen shrub that blooms a lot and doesn't get too big. Polygala fruticosa plays nicely in the perennial garden. Its flowers look a bit like sweet peas hence the common name 'Sweet-Pea Shrub'.
Cut back Polygala to about 10 inches above the ground in late winter to maintain its compact shape.
Sunset recommends providing regular water for Polygala. We are currently trialing this plant to see if it can survive in a low water garden. Several Master Gardeners have not found Polygala fruticosa to be long-lived in their home gardens.