Plant Library

Other Names:  Shrubby Milkwort

Description:

A pretty upward growing shrub with evergreen boxwood-like foliage; vivid purple winged flowers with a whitish crest almost year round; cut flowers are long lasting in arrangements; coastal plant great for beachside plantings

Ornamental Features

Petite Butterfly Sweet Pea Shrub features dainty clusters of purple pea-like flowers with violet overtones at the ends of the branches from late winter to late fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has attractive green evergreen foliage. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Petite Butterfly Sweet Pea Shrub is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Petite Butterfly Sweet Pea Shrub is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Petite Butterfly Sweet Pea Shrub will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.