Flower profile

Fringed polygala

Polygaloides paucifolia

Fringed polygala (Polygaloides paucifolia) is a flowering plant in the Polygalaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Fringed polygala is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

24states where USDA records it

4Bloomipedia state lists include it

12,994U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire

Quick look

Chamaebuxus paucifolia, synonyms including Polygaloides paucifolia and Polygala paucifolia, known as gaywings or fringed polygala, is a perennial plant of the family Polygalaceae.
From Wikipedia's article Chamaebuxus paucifolia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Polygalaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 24 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. ^NatureServe
In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^iNaturalist
In Massachusetts, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,170 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #73 among the 172 flowers on our Michigan list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,588 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #96 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,120 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #43 among the 157 flowers on our New Hampshire list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,992 records)

Bloom time in the 4 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Michigan	Native	May–June	2,170
Massachusetts	Native	May	1,588
New Hampshire	Native	May	1,120
Maine	Native	May–June	900

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)

Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}

NatureServe global

G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe

State rare plant lists

Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 4 of our 4 states.

See each state

Michigan: Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. ^{R 299.1028}
Massachusetts: Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. ^{MESA list}
New Hampshire: Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. ^{NH Ncr 312}
Maine: Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. ^{Maine rare plant list}

Rare elsewhere

Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (SX), IN (S1), KY (S1), NC (S2), OH (S1), SC (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records fringed polygala in 24 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Benzie, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Houghton, Huron, Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Jackson, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, St. Clair, Tuscola, Washtenaw, Wayne, Wexford.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Worcester.

New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Triclisperma paucifolia.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 327 counties across 21 states; the most are in Michigan (64), Pennsylvania (57), New York (40).

More from the Polygalaceae family (6 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Orange milkwort, Candyroot, Yellow bachelor's button, Showy milkwort, White milkwort, Rootbeer plant.

More Michigan flowers

Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Native

🌼 Blooms in MI: June–July

Ghost pipe

Monotropa uniflora

Native

🌼 Blooms in MI: July–September

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in MI: June–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile POPA5.
iNaturalist, Polygaloides paucifolia: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Chamaebuxus paucifolia (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Michigan: Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023).
Michigan: Michigan prohibited and restricted species (NREPA Part 413 and the 2026 Invasive Species Order), as listed by Michigan's Invasive Species Program.
Massachusetts: Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90).
Massachusetts: Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List (MDAR) (Text from MDAR's 2023 scientific-name PDF (mass.gov blocks automated downloads); 2024-2026 additions listed on the mass.gov page: Alnus glutinosa, Pyrus calleryana, Miscanthus sinensis, Aralia elata, Rhodotypos scandens, Symplocos paniculata.).
New Hampshire: New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020).
New Hampshire: NH Prohibited Invasive Species List (Agr 3800, Table 3800.1).
Maine: Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories.
Maine: Maine Do Not Sell invasive plant list (01-001 C.M.R. ch. 273).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Polygaloides paucifolia (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Lynn Harper via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.