Heath milkwort
Widespread throughout Britain, Heath milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia) is a low-growing perennial which is usually found on grasslands and heath, but not on chalky soil or sand dunes where its close relative, Common milkwort, is more likely to thrive.
The flowering season is from June to August and sometimes later; the tiny flowers measure less than half an inch across, but at close range they are really beautiful. Heath milkwort has a surprisingly wide colour spectrum which includes deep blue through to pale pink and white, and sometimes all these shades can be found growing close together.
All these examples were photographed in the grass verges around our home in West Lothian in the early summer.
According to Plantlife, the history of milkwort as a herbal remedy can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, when the botanist Dioscorides recommended it to nursing mothers. He gave it the name polugalon, meaning ‘much milk’.
Traditionally, milkwort has been made into infusions for the treatment of coughs and bronchitis; it was also boiled in milk and used as a lotion to help heal the scars of smallpox.
Sources:
Photographs copyright © Colin Woolf
6 Comments
tearoomdelights
What a beautiful little flower, I had no idea it came in all those colours. Seeing the intricate details of small flowers when you get up close to them is amazing.
Jo Woolf
It is lovely – such an intense blue. When I saw Colin’s photos I was amazed at the detail in the flowers.
dhphotosite
What a very pretty plant to see when wandering about! I love seeing native species from other countries.
Jo Woolf
It is lovely, a very vivid blue in all the hedgerows. This year we haven’t seen it so much, but then we’ve been out walking less often because of the rain.
Myrddin Roberts
What a superb deep blue colour, found it in flower on the last day of December 2019! How can this be?
Jo Woolf
That’s surprising! Where did you find it? I know that we’ve had a relatively mild winter so far, but I wouldn’t expect to find milkwort in flower.