Polygala amarella

A small perennial belonging to the Polygalaceae family, this milkwort is found in central and northern Europe, from the northern plains to mountainous areas, including the Pyrenees. It inhabits poor calcareous grasslands, short vegetation meadows, and sunny slopes, generally between 1,000 and 2,000 meters in altitude.

The plant forms small, dense, spreading tufts, hardly exceeding 5 to 10 cm in height. The basal leaves, oblong to spatulate and arranged in a loose rosette, are noticeably wider than the cauline leaves — a distinctive feature useful for differentiating it from neighboring species of the genus, notably Polygala vulgaris with which it can coexist.

The flowers have the characteristic structure of milkworts, with two large petaloid sepals — the wings — of a deep and strong blue-violet, framing a whitish fringed keel. They are gathered in fairly dense terminal clusters that generously cover the tuft at the time of anthesis.

In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to July depending on altitude and exposure.

In cultivation, the species is known to be delicate to maintain sustainably, being associated with specific mycorrhizae and strict edaphic conditions — poor, fresh, well-drained calcareous soil. It is rarely available in specialized commerce.