Gaywings
Polygaloides paucifolia
Gaywings looks improbably like a small orchid — two spreading rose-purple wings flanking a fringed keel — held just above evergreen leaves on a creeping woodland mat. It also sets hidden self-pollinating flowers underground. Needs cool acid humus and is intolerant of disturbance; formerly Polygala paucifolia.
- Family
- Polygalaceae
- Type
- wildflower
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 0.25–0.5 ft
- Spacing
- 0.5–1 ft apart
- Light
- part shade, shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- neutral
- Bloom
- May, June
- Bloom colors
- pink, purple
- Wildlife value
- pollinators
- Landscape uses
- groundcover, naturalizing
- Native states
- CT, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV