As a low growing evergreen, this plant is often used as a groundcover.
Due to its popularity many cultivars have been developed. These tend to have variegated leaves, have lower vigorosity, and more colourful flowers than the wild-type plant.
Common cultivars include:
Alba Plena: Double flowers, white, slower growth.
Atropurpurea: Deep plum purple flowers. Large blooms.
Bowlesii: common cultivar; strong climber, lavender-blue flowers.
Illumination: grown for its striking foliage (gold at center); purple flowers.
Ralph Shugert: Cream colored border around leaves.
Miss Jekyll: white flowers, small.
Quick Growing and Care Guide
Scientific Name:Vinca minor
Common Name (s): Lesser periwinkle, Dwarf periwinkle, Small periwinkle, Common periwinkle, Myrtle, Creeping myrtle
Growing Zone (USA / UK Hardiness): 4 to 8 / H6
Plant Details
Life Cycle / Plant Type: Evergreen subshrub.
Plant Height: 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm)
Plant Spread: 18 to 36 inches (0.5 to 1 m). Mat forming. Plant can grow vigorously and may become invasive under the right climates; so consider planting out a slow growing Vinca minor Cultivar.
Blooms: Early spring and the Middle of summer in mass. Flowers will continue to be produced until autumn.
Leaf Foliages: Dark Green. Glossy. Opposite. Broad. 2 to 4.5 cm (0.8 to 1.6 inches). Cultivars often variegated.
Fruit: Twin follicles. 2.5 cm (1 inch).
Growing Conditions
Best Light Conditions: Full sunlight or partial shade for best results, can tolerate heavy shade
Suitable Soil Types: Well drained. Average soils.
Soil Soil Moisture: Medium
Planting, and Propagation: Divide in either spring or autumn. Or take Semi-ripe cuttings in the summer time. Space at about 8 to 16 inches (20 to 40 cm)(dependent on how quickly you want to cover the ground).
Care: Easy plant to grow, low maintenance. Deer and Drought Resistant. Prune from the start to middle of spring, well before blooming. Cut back previously year growth to about two buds of old and woody tissue. Following pruning provide a mulch and feed to help the plant recover.
Further Information
Best used for: Ground cover. Stabilizing soils on banks and slopes. Prevention of erosion. Winter interest. Filling in bare areas between other plants.
Family: Apocynaceae (Dogbane family).
Closely related species and genera: Annual Vinca and Dogbane members such as Adenium, Allamanda, Amsonia, Asclepias, Nerium, Pachypodium, Wrightia, Vinca
Miscellaneous: This flowers gives rise to the name for the color 'Periwinkle' (blue-lavender-violet). The genus name Vinca refers to its stems which bind and wind and were used in the making of wreathes.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Vinca minor plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Allamanda cathartica and Amsonia plants.
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