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Viola striata Viola striata

Red-hot Poker Senega lutea

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Pilostaxis lutea
  • Polygala lutea
Phonetic Spelling
SEH-neh-gah LOO-tee-uh
Description

Orange milkwort is a biennial wildflower in the milkwort family (Polygalaceae). The species epithet is Latin for "yellow." Although the inflorescences are a vivid orange in life, they turn yellow upon drying. The epithet is based on the color of a dried specimen seen by Linnaeus in the 18th century.

The orange milkwort is commonly found growing in wet sandy soil and bogs as well as moist pine or hardwood forests and roadside ditches. In North Carolina, it is commonly found along the coast, rare in the Piedmont.

This wildflower is rarely cultivated. 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#biennial#fall interest#NC native#summer flowers#native garden#spring interest#food source summer#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#herbaceous annual#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#partial shade tolerant#Audubon#wildflower#herb garden
 
low-growing plants with vivid orange cone-like inflorescences.
Senega lutea. Form. Gail Hampshire CC BY 2.0
Inflorescence of bright orange flowers.
Senega lutea. Inflorescence. Judy Gallagher CC BY 2.0
Inflorescence of bright orange flowers.
Senega lutea. Inflorescence. Bob Peterson CC BY 2.0
Polygala lutea
Flower with stems Harold S. Snyder CC-BY-SA 2.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#biennial#fall interest#NC native#summer flowers#native garden#spring interest#food source summer#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#herbaceous annual#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#partial shade tolerant#Audubon#wildflower#herb garden
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Senega
    Species:
    lutea
    Family:
    Polygalaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Biennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    New York and Alabama
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit displays from June to November.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Orange
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Compact, head-like clusters. 3 small sepals, frequently one of these slightly larger than the others. 2 larger petalois sepals. Flowers bloom from April to October.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblanceolate
    Oblong
    Spatulate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    .75 - 1.5" leaves, erect to ascending stems. The leaves are almost succulent to the touch.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    4-6" stems. May be branched in the upper half.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden