Polygala alpina is a cultivar of the Polygala genus, which includes various shrubs known for their simple leaves and pea-like racemes of flowers. This evergreen shrub has a trailing, bushy, dwarf, and mat-forming habit, making it suitable for rock gardens, wildlife gardens, and informal or cottage garden settings. It thrives in full sun or partial shade and prefers fertile, well-drained soils such as chalk, loam, or sand, with a pH that can be acid, alkaline, or neutral. Hardy to UK zone H5, it is best grown in exposed or sheltered east, south, or west-facing aspects and is of interest during spring and summer.

Polygala alpina is a hardy shrub ideal for rock and wildlife gardens, flowering in spring and summer, thriving in full sun or partial shade.

Polygala alpina

Polygala calcarea Bulley's form is a dwarf, mat-forming shrub cultivar within the Polygala genus, known for its trailing and bushy habit. This evergreen plant thrives in well-drained chalk, loam, or sand soils with a range of pH levels from acid to alkaline. It is hardy to UK zone H5 and suits full sun to partial shade, making it ideal for east, south, or west-facing aspects. Often used in cottage and informal gardens, rock gardens, and wildlife areas, it provides interest during the winter season.

Polygala calcarea Bulley's form is a dwarf evergreen shrub with a trailing habit, ideal for rock gardens and winter interest in full sun or partial shade.

Polygala calcarea Bulley's form

Polygala myrtifolia, the myrtle-leaf milkwort, is an evergreen 2–4 m tall South African shrub or small tree found along the southern and south-eastern coasts, from near Clanwilliam in the Western Cape to KwaZulu-Natal. It is a fast-growing pioneer plant, a typical fynbos component, and may be found on dunes, rocky places, along forest margins, beside streams, and in open grassland. It belongs to the milkwort family of Polygalaceae. The thin, oval, mucronate leaves, 25–50 mm long and up to 13 mm wide, are arranged alternately and have entire margins – some forms of P. myrtifolia have thin, needle-like leaves. In the wild it grows across North America, Cape Provinces, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho and other regions.

Polygala myrtifolia is an evergreen shrub with vibrant purple flowers, ideal for adding colour and structure to UK gardens.