Plant in full sun or to part shade where it tolerates dry conditions and frost once established.. Root hardy to 10-15° F. Tends to be very upright growing and going a little bare at the base so is best planted in groups to form an unusual but showy thicket.

Polygala virgata is a wide-ranging plant that grows naturally in many soil types on slopes and hillsides in Tropical and East Africa, south through Natal, Transvaal and into the Cape region of South Africa. The name Polygala is Latin from the Greek word 'polugalon' for "much milk" because of the belief that cows grazing on milkwort increased their milk production. The specific epithet means rod-like in reference to this plants upright stems.

Our current plants that have called 'Portola' are a selection we made from crops that we originally grew from seed of Polygala virgata received in 2000 from Silverhill Seeds in South Africa. To distinguish this selection from seedlings we have named it 'Portola' for the garden on Portola Road where one of our plants was planted and from which all subsequent cuttings were taken. This selection produces its leaves on shorter internodes and makes a fuller looking and much more attractive plant then the typical form of the species. 

Information displayed on this page about Polygala virgata 'Portola' is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.