5/10/2023 0 Comments Vinca minor![]() ![]() ‘Pubescens’ bears more pubescent leaves than the species and red-purple flowers with narrow petals.‘Sterling Silver’ bears dark blue flowers and foliage with white margins.‘Jekyll’s White’ has single, pure white flowers and is more floriferous than ‘Alba.’.‘Alboplena’ bears white, double flowers.‘Flore Pleno’ has double, purple flowers.‘Variegata’ has blue flowers and leaves variegated with rich yellow.‘Bowles Variety’ has blue flowers and grows vigorously in clumps.Propagate by taking tip cuttings of non-flowering stems in late spring or divide throughout the season. Occasionally shear plants close to the ground to encourage new growth. Fertilize only when necessary, preferably in the spring with a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 at a rate of 6 to 8 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Periwinkle prefers moist, well-drained soil, abundantly supplied with organic matter, but it is tolerant of a wide variety of soil conditions. Weeding and mulching are required on a regular basis until the groundcover fills in the planted area. Plant whenever the soil is workable and provide sufficient water, especially when planting in summer. At a 6-inch spacing periwinkle will completely cover an area in one year. Rooted cuttings or established plants are normally spaced from 12 to 18 inches apart. The foliage color is richer green in partial shade, but more flowers are produced in the sun. Periwinkle prefers shade but will grow well in full sun. Daffodils are particularly well-suited since they bloom with periwinkle and do not require frequent division. Spring-flowering bulbs interplanted with periwinkle will lend color and interest to the groundcover planting. Periwinkle grows well under trees and shrubs, on shaded slopes or on the north side of buildings. The trailing, arching stems that root where they touch the soil make these evergreen plants useful as groundcovers, for erosion control on banks, or for cascading from window boxes or planters. New growth of variegated large periwinkle emerges in spring. Non-flowering stems root at the tips where they touch the ground. Large periwinkle spreads rapidly and will mound up to 2 feet. They are borne in abundance in early spring and sporadically throughout the summer. The blue, funnel-shaped flowers are 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Vinca major or large periwinkle is a larger, more aggressive species than V. Vinca minor grows about 6 inches tall, spreading in all directions by sending out long trailing and rooting shoots, which make new plants. Plants bloom in March or April and sometimes again in the fall. Flowers are purple, blue or white depending on the cultivar. Oblong to ovate leaves are opposite, simple, ½ to 2 inches long, glossy, with a short petiole. Periwinkle ( Vinca minor) is an excellent evergreen groundcover with dark green foliage. The perennial periwinkle should not be confused with the bedding plant, Madagascar periwinkle ( Catharanthus roseus). All species have opposite leaves and single flowers. Of the 12 species of periwinkle, two are popular groundcovers. Periwinkle is also called vinca or myrtle. Karen Russ, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension
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