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Overview
Senega paniculata, formerly classified as Polygala paniculata, is a slender annual herb in the milkwort family reaching 12-20 inches (30-50 cm) tall and 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) wide. Thin, wiry stems branch from the base and carry small linear to lanceolate leaves up to 0.6 inch (1.5 cm) long. Narrow terminal racemes hold numerous tiny flowers about 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) across, white to pale mauve, opening in succession over a long warm-season period. The crushed roots release a scent of wintergreen and root beer from methyl salicylate, the source of the common name. Native to the tropical Americas, it has naturalized across the Pacific, southern Asia, and warm parts of Australia, where it colonizes lawns, roadsides, and disturbed ground. Growth is quick and the plant completes its life cycle within a single season, setting abundant seed. It tolerates poor soils and full sun but is short-lived and self-seeds freely where conditions suit, spreading into surrounding ground. Flowering reads as small in scale at a distance, and the low stature limits the plant to close-range and ground-level positions.
Native Range
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, from Mexico through Central America to South America and the Caribbean. It has naturalized widely across the Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the warmer regions of eastern Australia.Suggested Uses
Grown in containers, informal ground-level plantings, and as a curiosity for its scented roots. Suited to frost-free gardens and warm greenhouses, spaced 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) apart.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 1'8"
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Bloom Information
Flowers over an extended warm-season period, spring through autumn in subtropical climates and nearly year-round in frost-free tropics. Individual racemes open progressively from the base, with each flower lasting only a few days. The overall display is small in scale and held close to the stems.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White to pale mauveFoliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to light shade in most well-drained soils, including poor sandy and loamy ground. Water needs are moderate, and established plants tolerate short dry spells while growing more strongly in evenly moist soil. It germinates readily from seed in warm conditions and reaches flowering size within a few months. No fertilizing is required on average soils. In frost-prone areas it grows as a warm-season annual and dies back with the first frost. Self-sown seedlings appear freely and may need thinning to limit spread.Pruning
No formal pruning is needed. Spent plants can be cleared at the end of the season and seedlings thinned to limit self-seeding. Cutting back has little lasting effect on this short-lived annual.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons