Shrub 2-3 m tall. Leaves alternate, to 5 cm long, oblong to obovate. Flower clusters lateral, short and of few flowers. Flowers purple, about 1.5 cm long, with an unusual 'brush' at the tip of the keel; summer. Fruit capsule notched and narrowly winged.

Naturalised as a garden escape in Vic, SA,WA and NSW south of Port Macquarie.

var. grandiflora Hook. Leaves alternate. Flowers in the larger range, about 1.5-2 cm long, rich purple. This is also available as a low, more compact selection. The name 'Grandiflora' issometimes applied to these plants and sometimes to P. × dalmaisiana.

P. chamaebuxus L. from Europe, is a small, creeping shrub that is occasionally offered; P. × dalmaisiana hort. is a long- and large-flowering hybrid (P. fruticosa var. cordata × P. myrtifolia var. grandiflora) with mostly ovate, usually opposite leaves,- the flower structure and colourings are otherwise similar to P. myrtifolia. Syn. 'Grandiflora', see also P. myrtifolia var. grandiflora; P. fruticosa Berg. is an erect shrub from S Africa to 2 m tall with opposite leaves and purplish flowers. Syn. P. oppositifolia L.; P. virgata Thunb. from tropical and S Africa has long, terminal flower spikes to 15 cm or so long - it has become naturalised in all mainland states except the NT.

S Africa.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Polygalaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.