Plant in full sun or part shade with regular to little irrigation. Hardy to 15-20° F. Polygala fruticosa is a coastal species that can even be found within the splash zone, making this plant a good candidate for beachside plantings. It also makes a good cut flower and lasts well in arrangements.

The species Polygala fruticosa is found growing naturally on mountain slopes and coastal hills from the southern Cape to the Karoo and KwaZulu-Natal in 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 is the Latin word meaning "shrubby" or "bushy".

We received our stock plant as Polygala 'Petite Butterfly' from Robert Abe of Chia Nursery in Carpinteria, California, who got it from Malanseuns Pleasure Plants in South Africa. Malanseuns Pleasure Plants now lists this plant as Polygala fruticosa 'Sugar Baby' using the common name Butterfly Petite and has applied for a trademark in South Africa for the Sugar Baby name. It is also growing the nursery trade as Polygala myrtifolia 'Mariposa' - mariposa is the Spanish word for butterfly. We first started growing this plant in 2004 but discontinued it in 2012 in favor of growing Polygala 'Alta Mariposa', which is similar looking but a stronger growing plant with larger leaves. 

The information displayed on this page about Polygala fruticosa 'Petite Butterfly' is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We 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.