Polygala Myrtifolia

lol....did you buy one???

I had to Alexandra - it's been on my wish list since I saw your photo!!!!

I thought you would. You must post picture of it in your garden. I have a huge wish list at the moment but I'm holding off until the back garden is dug up and ready. That is my winter project for this year.

It's simply not hardy enough to go in the ground here - definitely a pot specimen.

ah ha...mine is in a pot outdoors and it's grown double in size this year. Taking a cutting for the garden as well.

Apparently one of there "needs" is a poor quality free draining soil. How odd! Makes them pretty well suited to pot growing though.

maybe that's why mine is doing so well.....

Meanie:

This is a very drought tolerant plant....any excess moisture may kill it. It's best to be careful with watering in a pot.

Feed from the bottom then?

I water mine every other day. But it's a lot warmer here that in the UK. I water mine from the top.

Meanie:

I recommend letting the plant try completely out for a while...then give a good water. In winter they should be kept even drier.

Here these plants receive very little water or no water at all in summer. The large ones in Balboa Park are grown in soil that's as hard as concrete.

Alexandramou:

Wow! That seems like a lot of water. Does your soil drain well?

Even with hot weather these plants are extremely drought tolerant (once established).

My kind of watering regime then!!

Delonix1, the plant is in a pot and it does drain well. It sits outdoors all winter as well and it gets all the rain. (we had a lot of rain last winter). It's doing really well.

Alexandramou:

I guess this shrub will tolerate lots of water if it has good drainage.