Plant Library

Other Names:  Shrubby Milkwort, Box-leaved Milkwort

Description:

A lovely ground hugging shrublet with evergreen boxwood-like foliage; vivid hot pink and yellow pea-like flowers in late winter; very slow growing; a welcome burst of color early in the season

Ornamental Features

Rhodoptera Ground Milkwort features dainty clusters of hot pink pea-like flowers with yellow overtones at the ends of the branches in late winter. It has attractive green evergreen foliage. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Rhodoptera Ground Milkwort is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging 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 should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Rhodoptera Ground Milkwort is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Rhodoptera Ground Milkwort will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity extending to 6 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow 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 is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.