MBN 5Gal Polygala virgata 'Portola' 17008

a compact grower with a tight habit, short leaf internodes and short flower stalks. I suspect we have Randy Baldwin's (San Marcos Growers) selection, and that it has gone 'round and 'round in the trade to become the default form just because of its superior production features and garden attributes. I've grown the "species form" of P. virgata from seed, it was quite different; big, fast and pretty, but also open and somewhat weedy, two things this is not. Makes a nice-looking dark green shrub to about 4' tall by 4-5' across, and bears its medium deep violet purple flowers from spring through fall. Requires some but not much watering when established, and prefers the same low strength, no-phosphate fertilizers you would (very) occasionally throw on all your other South African or Australian plants. Sun, at least average drainage, hardy to below 20F. USDA zone 9/Sunset zones 8-9, 12-24.

- Monterey Bay Nursery