Intro: Erect-ascending biennial/short-lived perennial of wet savannas, ditches, bogs, boggy clearings and other wet areas.

Stems: Stems simple or few-branched, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on stem, spatula-shaped, to 2 1/2 in. long, somewhat succulent and smooth.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers densely packed into erect, cylindric, terminal racemes; bright orange (drying yellow); about 1/2 in. wide; bilaterally symmetric, with 2 oval pointy-tipped "wings" (sepals) and 3 joined petals forming a tiny tube with fringed tip.

Fruits:

Comments:

Height: 6-12 in.

plant sale text: A member of the milkwort family, Polygala lutea is a short-lived perennial that produces head-like clusters of bright orange flowers from spring until fall. Commonly referred to as orange milkwort, candyweed, or, the garden staff's favorite "bog Cheetos" this species is common found in sandy soils and bogs in the coastal plain, but is rare in the piedmont. Try planting Polygala lutea as a companion to carnivorous species for added interest and color.

bloom table text:

description: Erect-ascending biennial/short-lived perennial of wet savannas, ditches, bogs, boggy clearings and other wet areas.

stems: Stems simple or few-branched, smooth.

leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on stem, spatula-shaped, to 2 1/2 in. long, somewhat succulent and smooth.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers densely packed into erect, cylindric, terminal racemes; bright orange (drying yellow); about 1/2 in. wide; bilaterally symmetric, with 2 oval pointy-tipped "wings" (sepals) and 3 joined petals forming a tiny tube with fringed tip.

fruits:

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern United States