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Products > Polygala 'Alta Mariposa'
 
Polygala 'Alta Mariposa' - Large Butterfly Sweet Pea Shrub

Note: This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.  
Image of Polygala 'Alta Mariposa'
[2nd Image]
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Shrub
Family: Polygalaceae (Milkworts)
Origin: South Africa (Africa)
Evergreen: Yes
Flower Color: Purple
Bloomtime: Year-round
Synonyms: [P. grandiflora, Hort.]
Height: 3-5 feet
Width: 3-5 feet
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F
Polygala 'Alta Grande' (Large Butterfly Sweet Pea Shrub) - A shrub we expect to grow to 3 to 4 feet tall with a dense rounded habit. It is has gray-green round leaves very similar, but larger than Polygala fruticosa 'Petite Butterfly'and also has a very free flowering nature like it with the purple pea-like flowers, composed of two winged petals surrounding a whitish purple lacy crest that can be found on the plant nearly year-round. 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. This would make this a good candidate for beachside plantings. It also makes a good cut flower and lasts well in arrangements though the stem length on this cultivar is a bit short. We were first made aware of this plant by Doug Zylstra of West Covina Wholesale who had purchased the plant from Alta Nursery as Polygala grandiflora – to commemorate its source and indicate its larger size, we have come to call this distinctive plant Polygala 'Alta Mariposa'. 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.  Information displayed on this page about  Polygala 'Alta Mariposa' is based on the research conducted about it in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of this plant as it grows in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others, and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.