Chalk Milkwort
ExplorePlants
Chalk Milkwort
Polygala calcarea
Chalk Milkwort is a pretty little flower that loves to grow in rocky places. It has bright purple petals and can be found in fields and meadows, making the world a little more colorful!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Chalk Milkwort displays bright blue-purple flowers, sometimes pink or white, with unique fringed lower petals arranged in dense clusters. Its small, dark green leaves often form a ground-hugging rosette, making it distinct from similar grassland flora.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyPolygalaceaeGenusPolygala
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Despite its name, this plant doesn't actually produce milk!
Its scientific name means 'much milk,' linked to ancient plant beliefs.
Sometimes, entire hillsides can turn purple from a carpet of these flowers!
The amazing flowers are shaped to only let certain pollinators collect nectar!
Special abilities
Ability
Chalk Champion
Chalk Milkwort can thrive in thin, lime-rich chalk soils where most plants struggle, thanks to its specialized roots.
Ability
Petal Power
Chalk Milkwort has unique fringed lower petals that guide buzzing insect visitors to its nectar for pollination.
Ability
Ant Courier Service
Chalk Milkwort produces seeds with tasty elaiosomes, encouraging ants to carry and disperse them far away.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-20 cm
- Spread
- 10-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-0.7 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring, Summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
collects nectar and pollen from flowers
depends on
European Red Ant
Myrmica rubra
disperses seeds to new locations
eaten by
Garden Snail
Helix aspersa
feeds on its leaves and young shoots
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't pick flowers unless an adult says it's okay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Chalk Milkwort?
5-20 cm
How wide does Chalk Milkwort spread?
10-30 cm
How big are the flowers on Chalk Milkwort?
0.5-0.7 cm
When does Chalk Milkwort bloom?
Spring, Summer
Is Chalk Milkwort edible?
No
Is Chalk Milkwort toxic?
None
What is Chalk Milkwort's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Chalk Milkwort pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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