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| New landscape plant for Mediterranean climate? | |
| Polygala myrtifolia (Cape Milkwort or Sweet Pea Bush) has excellent potential as a new garden and landscape plant for sub-tropical climates and as a flowering pot plant. It is disease resistant, adapts well, requires little maintenance and is easy to propagate. It is tolerant of poor soils, dry conditions and exposure to salt spray. P. myrtifolia is an evergreen shrub that produces small clusters of 3cm long flowers at the ends of short branches. The lower buds open first to reveal showy purple/mauve petals marked with darker veins. The species flowers profusely throughout the year, peaking in spring and summer. The leaves are bright green and slightly glossy, oval in shape, roughly 5cm long by 1.25cm wide. The plant grows quickly and flowers while still young. In 1997 US plant geneticist Alan Meerow identified Polygala myrtifolia found in the Bokkeveld Mountains, South Africa, as a potentially interesting new plant to develop for its ornamental characteristics. Alan Meerow working at the ARS Subtropical Horticulture Research Station (SHRS) at Miami, US, in collaboration with horticulturalist Tomas Ayala-Silva, obtained seed from a commercial company in South Africa licensed to collect native plants. After 2 years of trial and evaluation, they selected one seedling with superior attributes named ‘Chapman Field’. This is now available for distribution to commercial nurseries and research institutions associated with NPGS (National Plant Germplasm System) for germplasm conservation. The seed population from which ‘Chapman Field’ was selected originates in a climate very similar to that of southern Florida. Ordinary species normally reach a height of about 2m high. ‘Chapman Field’ only gets to 1.2m. This variety stands apart because of its dense foliage, quick growth (just 2-3 months to propagate), and heavy flowering. Its fruit, a small, winged capsule, has never formed in south Florida. In South Africa, P. myrtifolia varies in form as it adapts to different areas, from the harshness of the coast to drier, inland climates. Different seed populations should permit the selection of other varieties adapted to the Mediterranean climate. A white flowered variety ‘White Feathers’ has been selected at the Kirstenbosch national Botanical Gardsens. www.plantzafrica.com Alfredo Flores, ARS. See January edition of "Agricultural Research”. Contact details for the SHRS (Alan Meerow): Tel. 001 3052543635, Fax 0013059696410 www.ars.usda.gov |
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