Gaywings, also known as Fringed Polygala,(Polygaloides paucifolia) is a wildflower native to Wisconsin and much of the northeastern United States. It is a perennial plant that thrives in dry to moist conifer forests, often under pines, and prefers part shade to shade. It is a small plant, reaching only three to seven inches in height. Each plant produces one to four deep pink to nearly white blossoms, each less than an inch wide. The flowers have two oval sepals that resemble petals and flare out like wings, giving them their distinctive appearance. The leaves are crowded toward the tip of the stem, elliptic in shape, with toothless edges that are often fringed with short hairs. Their bloom time is typically in the spring to early summer, adding a splash of color to the forest floor.
In addition to attracting pollinators with their nectar, gaywings play another important ecological role. Like many spring wildflowers, they rely on ants for seed dispersal, a strategy known as myrmecochory. Their seeds have nutrient-rich attachments called elaiosomes that attract ants, which then carry the seeds into their nests. The ants consume the elaiosomes, leaving the seeds to germinate underground, far from the parent plant. This process helps maintain genetic diversity and ensures the continued spread of the species.
They can also be successfully grown in shade gardens. They thrive in acidic, well-drained, organic soils and do best when planted without competition from aggressive species. Their slow-growing, semi-evergreen nature makes them an excellent groundcover for woodland gardens. (LS)