Polygala chamaebuxus Grandiflora

Polygala chamaebuxus Grandiflora owes its name of False Boxwood to the resemblance of its small evergreen leaves to those of the shrub. It is here that the comparison between these two plants ends, however, as our Polygala is more of a perennial plant with a woody, creeping stem, whose early spring flowering does not go unnoticed, especially in partially shaded areas where it thrives. It is made up of small flowers somewhat reminiscent of peas; these are brightly coloured in dark pink-violet and bright lemon-yellow. This lovely plant, which tolerates any well-drained soil and perfectly withstands dry shade once established, is simply perfect for forgotten and never-watered areas of the garden, where it spreads slowly but surely.

Polygala chamaebuxus belongs to the Polygalaceae family. It is native to the French Alps, the eastern Pyrenees, and central Europe. It is a mountainous botanical species that prefers rocky, calcareous to very calcareous soil or slightly acidic soil, and is widespread from France to Romania. It appreciates north-facing slopes and generally prefers non-scorching situations. Its hardiness is around -12/-14 °C (10.4/6.8 °F) in porous soil.

The 'Grandiflora' variety distinguishes itself with larger and much more colourful flowers. It has received an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. It is a charming perennial with a woody stump, which slowly extends through its stoloniferous roots. Its growth is slow to very slow. It has a ground-covering habit: a mature plant will not exceed 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in) in height, but can spread indefinitely over time. The branched, not very woody, green and prostrate stems, naked at the base, bear small, ovate, leathery, entire, glossy leaves, 1 to 3 cm (0.4 to 1 in) long, marked by a strong central vein. They persist throughout the year, even in winter.

Flowering occurs from February-March to June, depending on the climate, and can reoccur in summer if the soil remains moist. It will be earlier in mild climates, later in the mountains and in colder regions. The flowers are solitary or paired in the axils of the leaves. They are 1.5 cm (1 in) long, very brightly coloured, composed of 3 violet sepals arranged in a wing around 2 fused sepals forming a corolla, lemon-yellow with a violet base. The plant produces capsules containing fine seeds that will germinate after exposure to cold temperatures.

If Polygala chamaebuxus is not more widely planted in our gardens, it is undoubtedly because its early spring flowering goes unnoticed by those who only visit garden centres from April onwards. Once flowering is over, this small plant with the appearance of creeping cotoneaster becomes modest again in its 9 cm (4 in) bucket. It is nevertheless easy to grow in soil that does not retain excess water, and its tolerance for drought is quite respectable. Its only weakness is a somewhat limited cold resistance. It is a good plant for dressing up shaded borders, somewhat inhospitable slopes that receive little sun, or the top of a wall that is inhospitable to sun-loving plants. For example, it can be associated with hepaticas (Hepatica nobilis), anemones blanda, or Cyclamen coum that bloom at the same time and appreciate the same conditions.