Polygala incarnata

Common Names

Pink Milkwort, Procession Flower

Summary

Pink Milkwort (Polygala incarnata) is an annual herb native to eastern North America, with an erect habit and stems reaching up to about 60 cm tall, it bears dense racemes of pink to pale rose-purple flowers (7–10 mm long) atop the stem, with a long tubular corolla about 5–10 mm long, leaves are alternate and linear, 5–12 mm long, the plant occurs in prairie-related habitats such as prairies, meadows, savannas, glades, and lakeplain prairies, and it favors soils ranging from dry sand to wet peaty soils, flowering occurs from spring through late summer, and seeds are hairy about 2 mm long, Cultivation and management: thrives in full sun and dry to mesic prairie soils, commonly found in prairie remnants and restoration contexts, practical considerations include habitat management with prescribed burns and brushing to maintain open habitat; rotational burns and annual unburned refugia are often preferred, and broadcast herbicide spraying is discouraged.

Lifecycle

Annual

Height

23.5-24 inches

Spread

0.5 inches

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun. Full Sun to Partial Sun.

Soil Type

No single ideal soil type; tolerates a range from dry sandy soils to wet peaty soils.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained sandy soil.

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Glaucous, Medium green

Leaf Lifecycle

Other

Growth Rate

Unknown

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees