426 Species in Genus Polygala

What is Polygala?

Polygala belong to the Polygalaceae family, is a type of flowering plant that I’ve encountered in my gardening adventures. It’s known for its vibrant purple or pink flowers that look somewhat like pea flowers. The plant has this unique charm that adds a splash of color and elegance to my garden. I’ve always enjoyed watching the bees and butterflies it attracts.

Polygala species

1. Polygala abyssinica R.Br. ex Fresen.
2. Polygala acarnanica (Chodat) Kožuharov & A.V.Petrova
3. Polygala acicularis Oliv.
4. Polygala adamsonii Exell
5. Polygala affinis DC.
6. Polygala albida Schinz
7. Polygala albowii Kem.-Nath.
8. Polygala alpestris Rchb.
9. Polygala alpicola Rupr.
10. Polygala alpina (DC.) Steud.
11. Polygala amara L.
12. Polygala amarella Crantz
13. Polygala amatymbica Eckl. & Zeyh.
14. Polygala amboniensis Gürke
15. Polygala amphothrix S.F.Blake
16. Polygala anatolica Boiss. & Heldr.
17. Polygala andringitrensis Paiva
18. Polygala angolensis Chodat
19. Polygala ankaratrensis H.Perrier
20. Polygala annectens S.F.Blake
21. Polygala antunesii Gürke
22. Polygala apiculata Huter, Porta & Rigo
23. Polygala appressipilis S.F.Blake
24. Polygala arcuata Hayata
25. Polygala arenaria Willd.
26. Polygala arenicola Gürke
27. Polygala argentea Thulin
28. Polygala arillata Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don
29. Polygala arvensis Willd.
30. Polygala arvicola Bojer
31. Polygala asbestina Burch.
32. Polygala aschersoniana Chodat
33. Polygala atacorensis Jacq.-Fél.
34. Polygala azizsancarii Dönmez
35. Polygala baetica Willk.
36. Polygala baikiei Chodat
37. Polygala bakeriana Chodat
38. Polygala barbata R.A.Kerrigan
39. Polygala barbellata S.K.Chen
40. Polygala bariensis Thulin
41. Polygala barklyensis R.A.Kerrigan
42. Polygala baumii Gürke
43. Polygala bawanglingensis F.W.Xing & Z.X.Li
44. Polygala bifoliata R.A.Kerrigan
45. Polygala biformipilis S.F.Blake
46. Polygala birmanica Chodat
47. Polygala boissieri Coss.
48. Polygala bolbothrix Dunn
49. Polygala bomiensis S.K.Chen & J.Parn.
50. Polygala bowkerae Harv.
51. Polygala brachyanthema S.F.Blake
52. Polygala brachyphylla Chodat
53. Polygala brachysepala S.F.Blake
54. Polygala brachytropis S.F.Blake
55. Polygala bracteolata L.
56. Polygala brandegeeana Chodat
57. Polygala britteniana Chodat
58. Polygala butyracea Heckel
59. Polygala buxiformis Hassk.
60. Polygala calcarea F.W.Schultz
61. Polygala callispora Chodat
62. Polygala canaliculata R.A.Kerrigan
63. Polygala cardiocarpa Kurz
64. Polygala carnosa Mukerjee
65. Polygala carnosicaulis W.H.Chen & Y.M.Shui
66. Polygala carueliana (Burnat ex A.W.Benn.) Caruel
67. Polygala caucasica Rupr.
68. Polygala caudata Rehder & E.H.Wilson
69. Polygala chiapensis S.F.Blake
70. Polygala chinensis L.
71. Polygala citrina Thulin
72. Polygala claessensii Chodat
73. Polygala clavistyla R.A.Kerrigan
74. Polygala comosa Schkuhr
75. Polygala compacta Rose
76. Polygala compressa H.Perrier
77. Polygala conosperma Bojer
78. Polygala conzattii Rose
79. Polygala coralliformis R.A.Kerrigan
80. Polygala crassitesta R.A.Kerrigan
81. Polygala cretacea Kotov
82. Polygala crista-galli Chodat
83. Polygala cristata P.Taylor
84. Polygala crotalarioides Buch.-Ham. ex DC.
85. Polygala cuspidulata S.F.Blake
86. Polygala dasanensis Thulin
87. Polygala dasyphylla Levyns
88. Polygala declinata (Harv.) Paiva
89. Polygala dependens R.A.Kerrigan
90. Polygala dewevrei Exell
91. Polygala dhofarica Baker
92. Polygala didyma C.Y.Wu
93. Polygala difficilis R.A.Kerrigan
94. Polygala dimorphotricha R.A.Kerrigan
95. Polygala dispar Ghaz.
96. Polygala doerfleri Hayek
97. Polygala dunniana H.Lév.
98. Polygala edmundii Chodat
99. Polygala effusa Paiva & Thulin
100. Polygala ehlersii Gürke
101. Polygala elegans Royle
102. Polygala eminensis Baker
103. Polygala engleri Chodat
104. Polygala engleriana Buscal. & Muschl.
105. Polygala ephedroides Burch.
106. Polygala ericifolia DC.
107. Polygala eriocephala F.Muell. ex Benth.
108. Polygala erioptera DC.
109. Polygala erlangeri Gürke ex Chodat
110. Polygala erubescens E.Mey. ex Chodat
111. Polygala evolvulacea Barneby
112. Polygala exelliana Troupin
113. Polygala exilis DC.
114. Polygala exsquarrosa Adema
115. Polygala fadimeana Dönmez & Çeçen
116. Polygala fallax Hemsl.
117. Polygala flavescens DC.
118. Polygala forojulensis A.Kern.
119. Polygala fragilis Paiva
120. Polygala francisci Exell
121. Polygala fruticosa P.J.Bergius
122. Polygala furcata Royle
123. Polygala gabrielae Domin
124. Polygala galeocephala R.A.Kerrigan
125. Polygala galeottii Chodat
126. Polygala ganguelensis Exell & Mendonça
127. Polygala garcini DC.
128. Polygala gawenensis Thulin
129. Polygala gazensis Baker f.
130. Polygala geniculata R.A.Kerrigan
131. Polygala gerrardii Chodat
132. Polygala gilletiana E.Petit
133. Polygala gillettii Paiva
134. Polygala glaucifolia R.A.Kerrigan
135. Polygala glaucoides L.
136. Polygala globulifera Dunn
137. Polygala goetzei Gürke
138. Polygala gomesiana Welw. ex Oliv.
139. Polygala gondarensis Chiov.
140. Polygala gossweileri Exell & Mendonça
141. Polygala goudahensis Paiva
142. Polygala gracilenta Burtt Davy
143. Polygala gracilipes Harv.
144. Polygala grandidieri Baill.
145. Polygala greveana Baill.
146. Polygala grossheimii Kem.-Nath.
147. Polygala guerichiana Engl.
148. Polygala guilanica Sarvi & Faghir
149. Polygala guineensis Willd.
150. Polygala guneri Yıld.
151. Polygala gymnoclada MacOwan
152. Polygala gypsophila Thulin
153. Polygala hainanensis Chun & F.C.How
154. Polygala hamarensis Thulin & Raimondo
155. Polygala helenae Greuter
156. Polygala heterantha H.Perrier
157. Polygala hildebrandtii Baill.
158. Polygala hirsutula Arn.
159. Polygala hispida Burch. ex DC.
160. Polygala hohenackeriana Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
161. Polygala homblei Exell
162. Polygala hongkongensis Hemsl.
163. Polygala hottentotta C.Presl
164. Polygala houtboshiana Chodat
165. Polygala huillensis Welw. ex Oliv.
166. Polygala humbertii H.Perrier
167. Polygala humifusa Paiva
168. Polygala idukkiana M.Vishnu & Nampy
169. Polygala illepida E.Mey. ex Harv.
170. Polygala × ilseana Graebn.
171. Polygala inaequiloba Turcz.
172. Polygala inexpectata Peşmen & Erik
173. Polygala integra R.A.Kerrigan
174. Polygala irregularis Boiss.
175. Polygala isaloensis H.Perrier
176. Polygala isingii Pedley
177. Polygala isocarpa Chodat
178. Polygala jacobii Chandrab.
179. Polygala japonica Houtt.
180. Polygala javana DC.
181. Polygala kajii Paiva
182. Polygala kalaboensis Paiva
183. Polygala kalaxariensis Schinz
184. Polygala karensium Kurz
185. Polygala kasikensis Exell
186. Polygala kilimandjarica Chodat
187. Polygala kimberleyensis R.A.Kerrigan
188. Polygala koi Merr.
189. Polygala × kotovii Val.N.Tikhom.
190. Polygala kradungensis H.Koyama
191. Polygala krumanina Burch. ex Ficalho & Hiern
192. Polygala kurdica C.C.Towns.
193. Polygala kuriensis A.G.Mill.
194. Polygala kyoukmyoungensis Mukerjee
195. Polygala labatii Wahlert, G.E.Schatz & Phillipson
196. Polygala lactiflora Paiva & Brummitt
197. Polygala langebergensis Levyns
198. Polygala lasiosepala Levyns
199. Polygala latistyla Pendry
200. Polygala latouchei Franch.
201. Polygala laxifolia Exell
202. Polygala leendertziae Burtt Davy
203. Polygala lehmanniana Eckl. & Zeyh.
204. Polygala leptophylla Burch.
205. Polygala leptosperma Chodat
206. Polygala leucothyrsa Woronow
207. Polygala levynsiana Paiva
208. Polygala lhunzeensis C.Y.Wu & S.K.Chen
209. Polygala lijiangensis C.Y.Wu & S.K.Chen
210. Polygala limae Exell
211. Polygala loanzensis Exell
212. Polygala longeracemosa H.Perrier
213. Polygala longifolia Poir.
214. Polygala longipes S.F.Blake
215. Polygala lozanii Rose
216. Polygala ludwigiana Eckl. & Zeyh.
217. Polygala luenensis Paiva
218. Polygala lusitanica Welw. ex Chodat
219. Polygala luteoviridis Chodat
220. Polygala lysimachiifolia Chodat
221. Polygala macowaniana Paiva
222. Polygala macrobotrya Domin
223. Polygala macrolophos Hassk.
224. Polygala macroptera DC.
225. Polygala macrostigma Chodat
226. Polygala magdalenae Brandegee
227. Polygala major Jacq.
228. Polygala makaschwilii Kem.-Nath.
229. Polygala malesiana Adema
230. Polygala mandrarensis Phillipson & G.E.Schatz
231. Polygala marensis Burtt Davy
232. Polygala mariamae Tamamsch.
233. Polygala mascatensis Boiss.
234. Polygala mazandaranica Sarvi & Faghir
235. Polygala melilotoides Chodat
236. Polygala mendoncae E.Petit
237. Polygala meonantha Chodat
238. Polygala meridionalis Levyns
239. Polygala messambuziensis Paiva
240. Polygala microlopha Burch. ex DC.
241. Polygala microphylla L.
242. Polygala microtricha S.F.Blake
243. Polygala moggii Raffaelli, Mosti & Tardelli
244. Polygala monspeliaca L.
245. Polygala mooneyi M.G.Gilbert
246. Polygala mossamedensis Paiva
247. Polygala mossii Exell
248. Polygala multicaulis Tausch
249. Polygala multiflora Poir.
250. Polygala multifurcata Mildbr.
251. Polygala muratii Jacq.-Fél.
252. Polygala myriantha Chodat
253. Polygala myrtifolia L. Plant FAQs: Polygala Myrtifolia
254. Polygala myrtillopsis Welw. ex Oliv.
255. Polygala nambalensis Gürke
256. Polygala nathadzeae A.I.Kuth.
257. Polygala nematocaulis Levyns
258. Polygala nematophylla Exell
259. Polygala neurocarpa Brandegee
260. Polygala nicaeensis Risso ex W.D.J.Koch
261. Polygala nodiflora Chodat
262. Polygala nyikensis Exell
263. Polygala oaxacana Chodat
264. Polygala obliqua Pendry
265. Polygala obtusissima Hochst. ex Chodat
266. Polygala obversa R.A.Kerrigan
267. Polygala ohlendorfiana Eckl. & Zeyh.
268. Polygala oligosperma C.Y.Wu
269. Polygala oliveriana Exell & Mendonça
270. Polygala oophylla S.F.Blake
271. Polygala ophiura Chodat
272. Polygala orbicularis Benth.
273. Polygala oreotrephes B.L.Burtt
274. Polygala padulae Arrigoni
275. Polygala pallida E.Mey. ex Harv.
276. Polygala paludicola Gürke
277. Polygala papilionacea Boiss.
278. Polygala pappeana Eckl. & Zeyh.
279. Polygala papuana (Steenis) Meijden
280. Polygala parkeri Levyns
281. Polygala parrasana Brandegee
282. Polygala parviloba R.A.Kerrigan
283. Polygala × pawlowskii Rothm.
284. Polygala pedemontana E.P.Perrier & B.Verl.
285. Polygala pedicellata S.F.Blake
286. Polygala peduncularis Burch. ex DC.
287. Polygala pellucida Lace
288. Polygala pendulina R.A.Kerrigan
289. Polygala peplis Baill.
290. Polygala perdurans Pendry
291. Polygala perrieri Paiva
292. Polygala persicariifolia DC.
293. Polygala peshmenii Eren, Parolly, Raus & Kürschner
294. Polygala petitiana A.Rich.
295. Polygala petrophila R.A.Kerrigan
296. Polygala phoenicistes S.F.Blake
297. Polygala picta Charit.
298. Polygala platyptera Bornm. & Gauba
299. Polygala poggei Gürke
300. Polygala polifolia C.Presl
301. Polygala polyedra Brandegee
302. Polygala pottebergensis Levyns
303. Polygala praecox R.A.Kerrigan
304. Polygala praetermissa Thulin
305. Polygala praticola Chodat
306. Polygala preslii Spreng.
307. Polygala producta N.E.Br.
308. Polygala pruinosa Boiss.
309. Polygala pseudoalpestris (Gren.) Dalla Torre & Sarnth.
310. Polygala pseudogarcini Chodat
311. Polygala pseudohospita (Tamamsch.) Tamamsch.
312. Polygala pterocarpa R.A.Kerrigan
313. Polygala pteropoda H.Perrier
314. Polygala pubiflora Burch. ex DC.
315. Polygala pungens Burch.
316. Polygala pycnantha R.A.Kerrigan
317. Polygala pyroloides Gagnep.
318. Polygala rarifolia DC.
319. Polygala rausiana U.Raabe, Kit Tan, Iatroú, Vold & Parolly
320. Polygala recognita Chodat
321. Polygala refracta Burch. ex DC.
322. Polygala rehmannii Chodat
323. Polygala reinii Franch. & Sav.
324. Polygala resendeana Paiva
325. Polygala resinosa S.K.Chen
326. Polygala retamoides (H.Perrier) Wahlert, Phillipson & G.E.Schatz
327. Polygala retiefiana Paiva & Figueiredo
328. Polygala retifolia S.F.Blake
329. Polygala rhinanthoides Sol. ex Benth.
330. Polygala rhinostigma Chodat
331. Polygala rhynchocarpa R.A.Kerrigan
332. Polygala rigens Burch.
333. Polygala rivularis Gürke
334. Polygala robsonii Exell
335. Polygala robusta Gürke
336. Polygala rodrigueana Paiva
337. Polygala rosea Desf.
338. Polygala rosmarinifolia Wight & Arn.
339. Polygala rossica Kem.-Nath.
340. Polygala rupestris Pourr.
341. Polygala rupicola Hochst. & Steud. ex A.Rich.
342. Polygala russelliana S.F.Blake
343. Polygala ruwenzoriensis Chodat
344. Polygala saccopetala R.A.Kerrigan
345. Polygala sadebeckiana Gürke
346. Polygala sandiaochiaoensis S.S.Ying
347. Polygala sardoa Chodat
348. Polygala saxicola Dunn
349. Polygala schinziana Chodat
350. Polygala schirvanica Grossh.
351. Polygala schoenlankii O.Hoffm. & Hildebr.
352. Polygala schweinfurthii Chodat
353. Polygala scorpioides R.A.Kerrigan
354. Polygala sekhukhuniensis Retief, S.J.Siebert & A.E.van Wyk
355. Polygala seminuda Harv.
356. Polygala senensis Klotzsch
357. Polygala septentrionalis Troupin
358. Polygala serpentaria Eckl. & Zeyh.
359. Polygala serpyllifolia Hosé
360. Polygala sfikasiana Kit Tan
361. Polygala sibirica L.
362. Polygala sinaica Botsch.
363. Polygala sinisica Arrigoni
364. Polygala × skrivanekii Podp.
365. Polygala somaliensis Baker
366. Polygala sophiae Kem.-Nath.
367. Polygala sosnowskyi Kem.-Nath.
368. Polygala sparsiflora Oliv.
369. Polygala sphenoptera Fresen.
370. Polygala stenoclada Benth.
371. Polygala stenopetala Klotzsch
372. Polygala stenosepala (Benth.) R.A.Kerrigan
373. Polygala steudneri Chodat
374. Polygala stocksiana Boiss.
375. Polygala suanica Tamamsch.
376. Polygala subdioica H.Perrier
377. Polygala subopposita S.K.Chen
378. Polygala subuniflora Boiss. & Heldr.
379. Polygala succulenta R.A.Kerrigan
380. Polygala sumatrana Miq.
381. Polygala supina Schreb.
382. Polygala taiwanensis S.S.Ying
383. Polygala tamamschaniae V.I.Dorof.
384. Polygala tatarinowii Regel
385. Polygala tenuicaulis Hook.f.
386. Polygala tenuifolia Willd.
387. Polygala tepperi F.Muell.
388. Polygala teretifolia L.f.
389. Polygala thunbergii DC.
390. Polygala tinctoria Vahl
391. Polygala tisserantii Jacq.-Fél.
392. Polygala tonkinensis Chodat
393. Polygala torrei Exell
394. Polygala transcaucasica Tamamsch.
395. Polygala transvaalensis Chodat
396. Polygala tricholopha Chodat
397. Polygala triflora L.
398. Polygala triquetra C.Presl
399. Polygala turcica Dönmez & Uğurlu
400. Polygala umbellata L.
401. Polygala umbonata Craib
402. Polygala uncinata E.Mey. ex Meisn.
403. Polygala urartu Tamamsch.
404. Polygala usafuensis Gürke
405. Polygala validiflora R.A.Kerrigan
406. Polygala velata S.F.Blake
407. Polygala venenosa Juss. ex Poir.
408. Polygala venulosa Sm.
409. Polygala virgata Thunb.
410. Polygala vittata Paiva
411. Polygala vulgaris L.
412. Polygala wattersii Hance
413. Polygala welwitschii Chodat
414. Polygala wenxianensis Y.S.Zhou & Z.X.Peng
415. Polygala westii Exell
416. Polygala wightiana Wall. ex Wight & Arn.
417. Polygala wilmsii Chodat
418. Polygala wittebergensis Compton
419. Polygala wittei Exell
420. Polygala woodii Chodat
421. Polygala wuzhishanensis S.K.Chen & J.Parn.
422. Polygala xanthina Chodat
423. Polygala xanti A.Gray
424. Polygala yemenica Chodat
425. Polygala youngii Exell
426. Polygala zambesiaca Paiva

Is Polygala evergreen?

In my experience, Polygala is an evergreen plant. It keeps its foliage all year round, which is fantastic because it maintains a lush, green presence in my garden even during the colder months. I appreciate how it provides continuous greenery when other plants have lost their leaves.

Is Polygala poisonous to dogs?

Yes, Polygala can be poisonous to dogs. I’ve read that parts of the plant can be toxic if ingested by pets. This has made me a bit cautious about where I plant it, ensuring it’s in an area that’s not accessible to my dog to avoid any potential health issues.

When to prune Polygala?

I usually prune my Polygala in late spring, right after its main blooming period. This timing helps encourage new growth and keeps the plant looking neat and healthy. I find that regular pruning also helps it maintain a good shape and promotes more vigorous flowering the next season.

Why is my Polygala dying?

There were times when my Polygala started dying, and it was quite distressing. Often, the issue was related to improper watering—either too much or too little. In some cases, poor soil drainage was the culprit. I learned that ensuring the plant has well-drained soil and watering it appropriately is crucial for its health.

Can Polygala yellow leaves turn back green?

I’ve noticed that once the leaves of my Polygala turn yellow, they rarely turn back to green. Yellowing leaves usually indicate a problem that needs addressing, like nutrient deficiency or water issues. Removing the affected leaves and correcting the underlying problem helps the plant recover more quickly.

Can you plant Polygala in your garden?

I definitely can plant Polygala in my garden, and I have a couple of them thriving there. It’s a versatile plant that adapts well to different conditions, as long as it gets enough sunlight and has well-drained soil. It adds a beautiful, long-lasting splash of color to my garden space.

How often do you water Polygala plant?

When it comes to watering my Polygala, I try to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. During the hotter months, I water it more frequently, about once or twice a week, depending on the weather. In cooler seasons, I reduce the watering to prevent root rot.

How to grow Polygala?

Growing Polygala has been relatively straightforward for me. I planted it in a sunny spot with well-drained soil and made sure to water it regularly, especially when it was getting established. It doesn’t need much fertilizing, but I occasionally give it a balanced fertilizer to support its growth and flowering.

How to propagate Polygala?

Propagating Polygala has been quite fun. I’ve had success with both seeds and cuttings. For cuttings, I take a healthy stem, dip it in rooting hormone, and plant it in a mix of sand and compost. Keeping the soil moist and the cutting in a shaded area until it roots has worked well for me.

How to prune a Polygala?

When pruning my Polygala, I use sharp, clean shears to cut back any dead or straggly growth. I aim to shape the plant and remove any crossing branches to improve air circulation. Pruning right after flowering has been effective in encouraging more blooms and keeping the plant healthy.

Is Polygala an Australian native?

Polygala isn’t native to Australia, although some species are quite popular there. It’s originally from South Africa, but its adaptability has made it a favorite in various parts of the world, including my own garden. Its resilience and beauty make it a wonderful addition to any garden setting.