How to Grow and Care for Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)

Vinca minor (commonly known as periwinkle) is a tough, low-maintenance, and pest-free vining evergreen perennial with pretty broadleaf foliage and flowers that thrive in the sun or shade. It's useful for providing ground cover and is known for its creeping habit.

Vinca minor vine most commonly puts out bluesflower in spring, but the color can also be lavender, purple, or white. When planting, keep in mind that this species is toxic to pets.

Vinca Minor Care

Vinca minor vines have a low sprawling habit, typically growing three to six inches in height and 18 inches in length. The stems of these plants root at their joints as they creep along the ground and spread rapidly to become apretty flowering ground cover.

• Plant this drought-tolerant species in well-draining soil, in any amount of sun or shade.
• Water in drought, and fertilize somewhat regularly in growing season.
• These vines take nicely to being planted under mature trees as they won't compete for moisture.
• Because of their spread, periwinkle also makes a good choice for slopes where they will hold soil in place.
• As low-maintenance plants, periwinkle can provide good coverage in troublesome bare spots.

Warning

Vinca minor is considered an invasive species in parts of the United States. Consult your local cooperative extension office before planting to learn the status of the plant in your area.

Planting

Plant vinca minor in spring or fall when temperatures are mild. Dig a hole larger than the root ball, place the plant in the hole, backfill the hole with soil, and then water in the plant.

Space them about a footapart if you want to fill in an area quickly. Achieving vigorous growth is usually not difficult for these plants, and their quick growth can even posea problem sometimes.

Light

Vinca minor grows in partial sun, partial shade, and full shade. It tolerates deep shade conditions but may burn in direct sunlight. For best results, plant in partial shade. Also, they are a good choice for a ground cover for an area with dry shade.

Soil

Vinca minor vines require good drainage, so a soil rich in compost is ideal. They will tolerate poorer soils if they must.

Water

Vinca minor should be watered when the first few inches of soil dry out. You may need to water more often during the longest, hottest days of the year. While the plants will grow better in moist soils, its vines are pretty drought-tolerant once mature.

However, if you've just planted it, you should water it often until it's established.

Temperature and Humidity

This plant prefers average humidity levels. Vinca minor is perennial in zones 4 through 9 and prefers temperate climates.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer gives vinca minor a boost, making its foliage a more brilliant green and possibly encouraging more blooms.

Fertilizing monthly with an evenly balanced fertilizer may be helpful if your soil lacks sufficiently rich organic matter, but it is not necessary since vinca minor does well in poor soil, too.

Grass Alternative

Periwinkle is not infrequently used as a grass-alternative lawn ground cover—it needs less water, flowers, and can be mowed to manage growth. Just keep in mind that it is an invasive plant in some areas if you are considering switching over.

Types of Vinca Minor

There is another species of Vinca that's very similar to this plant, in addition to several cultivars.

• Vinca major is often called greater periwinkle. It has larger leaves and larger flowers thanVinca minor.
• V. minor 'Honeydew' has chartreuse leaves and tubular flowers.
• V. minor 'Variegata' has variegated leaves that are dark green with cream around the edges.
• V. minor '24 Carat' is known for leaves that are gold when they emerge.

Pruning

Because vinca minor grows unruly, pruning in spring prepares is to put out healthy growth and can be done so aggressively (cutting back most of the plant) if wanted.

Extreme Pruning

Some folks prune their vinca minor by putting their lawnmower on the highest setting and mowing right over it.

Propagating Vinca Minor

Vinca minor can be grown from seed, but it grows slowly. You can propagate this plant by taking cuttings or by division. Note that nursery plants are usually readily available for this species.

Propagating by Cuttings

1. Sever a 6-inch, healthy cutting with sterilized pruners.
2. Optionally, dip the cutting in rooting hormone.
3. Place the cutting in a small pot of moist but well-draining potting soil.
4. Keep the soil moist but not wet until the cutting roots.
5. Transplant the cutting once established.

Propagating by Division

1. Dig up the host plant that you wish to divide.
2. Using your hands (or a trowel if needed), manually divide the plant into multiple plants.
3. Plant the divisions immediately.
4. Pat down the soil around the plant roots, then water thoroughly.

Potting and Repotting Vinca Minor

Vinca minor can easily be grown in pots, hanging baskets, and containers. The type of container is not important, as long as it has drainage holes and the soil itself is a well-draining mix.

You will know the plant needs to be repotted when roots are growing out of the drainage hole or out of the top layer of soil. When repotting, choose a pot that's only two or three inches wider than the current vessel.

Overwintering

Vinca minor is hardy down to zone 4. It won't survive winter in colder zones. If you're in one of its cooler perennial zones, considering mulching around the plant before winter to protect its roots from unexpectedly chilly winters.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Vinca minor will attract all the typical indoor and outdoor pests, including aphids, spider mites, scale, and whiteflies. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to control any infestations.

The vine is also susceptible to wilt and dieback, which is typically caused by fungal diseases. Vinca minor could also experience canker lesions on the stem. Fungal leaf spots can also attack the leaves, but an infected leaf can be cut off and thrown away. To avoid fungal problems, water the soil, not the leaves.

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• Does vinca minor still bloom when grown in shade?

  Yes, vinca minor will still bloom when grown in partial and full shade.
  

• How fast does vinca minor grow?

  Vinca minor has a medium growth rate, but can become a very vigorous, aggressive grower. If this is a concern, keep runners in check on an annual basis.

• What is the difference between vinca minor and impatiens?

  Vinca minor flowers are purple, while impatiens flowers are usually shades of pink and red. Also, while vinca minor leans towards tropical, impatiens plants wilt in warm climates.
  

• How invasive is vinca minor?

  Invasiveness is not a matter of degree, so vinca minor simply is invasive. This is because it forms dense mats that can cover and block out sunlight and nutrients from nearby plants.

From: thespruce