Polygala myrtifolia

Polygala myrtifolia_Luigi Rignanese
Photo by Luigi Rignanese

Common names: myrtle-leaf milkwort

Polygala myrtifolia (myrtle-leaf milkwort) is a shrub (family Polygalaceae) with pink-purple flowers and narrow leaves found in the central coast ranges of California. It is native to South Africa. It favors grasslands, woodlands, and riparian and bottomland habitat. It spreads only by seeds which travel via water, birds, ants and dumped garden waste.

Cal-IPC Rating: Watch

Cal-IPC Assessment

Plant Risk Assessment - An evaluation of the potential for a plant to be invasive in California.

Weed Management Notes

No Weed RIC Management Notes are available for this species. Check for information on other species in the genus on the Weed RIC site.

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

There are no newsletter articles associated with this species yet.

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

There are no Symposium presentations associated with this species yet.

Other Polygala myrtifolia Information

  • CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
  • Calflora - See the distribution of this species on Calflora's map of California.
  • USDA PLANTS Database - Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states.
  • EDDMapS - North American distribution based on Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System.