perennial > PERIWINKLE
IN THIS GUIDE
PERIWINKLE GUIDES
Vinca venial , more commonly cognise as ‘ Periwinkle ’ , is a low - growing perennial that ’s wide used as weed - preventive ground cover .
An extremely toughened client , it necessitate very little in the means of maintenance or maintenance , establish it an fantabulous choice for set up - and - forgetcorners of the garden .
Its power to thrive in low - visible light conditions and tolerate drought with simplicity makes it an idealistic option for planting underneath Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or in shady alcove where nothing else seems to grow .
The evergreen nature of its foliation supply colorful intrigue throughout the calendar year , while the bright blossoms in spring and summer are an additional summation .
Overview
PreferredFull Sun or Partial Shade
ExposureExposed or shelter
Height0 – 0.1 chiliad
Spread1 – 2 M
Bloom TimeSpring / Summer
PreferredMost fertile soils
MoistureMoist but well - debilitate
pHAny
A native of the sultry clime of southern Europe and the Caucusus , Vinca minorhas adapted unusually well to the less predictable and hospitable weather in the UK.1Vinca minor . ( n.d . ) . Kew Royal Botanic Gardens . recollect March 22 , 2023 , fromhttps://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:82701-1
It ’s a unwashed sight in ballpark and even graveyards around the country today , while its easiness of cultivation makes it a popular pick for green - finger partizan too .
IsVinca MinorInvasive?
V. minoris a very vigorous and resilient raiser and will require small to no upkeep from your side so as to bear on thriving .
In fact , my elemental recommendation when caring for this plant would be to keep it from growing too vigorously and exceed the mark .
Having said that , the plant life is pretty well-to-do to control and is not considered invasive here in the UK .
Vinca major – or not bad periwinkle – is another tympanum of fish entirely .
This species is extremely invasive and will encroach on the district of any neighbouring works in its vicinity since it has a tendency to get off down beginning wherever its stems meet the soil.2Vinca major . ( n.d . ) . Plant Right . Retrieved March 22 , 2023 , fromhttps://plantright.org/invasive/vinca-major/
As a result , it ’s highly advisable to insure you are indeed plantingV. minor(andnotV.major ) in your garden .
Common Varieties
The RHS Plant Finder lists 80 different form or cultivars ofV. underage .
Most send off forth blue - purple flowers each fountain and summertime , but there are others which offer up lavender or even white blossoms as well .
Here are some of my personal favourites :
This variety produce bright dark-green foliage and is complement by a deep crimson - purpleness hue to the flowers , which makes for an extremely eye - catch bundle .
There ’s a delicious contrast between the dark tincture of the greenish leaves and the magnificent sinlessness of the floral bloom on this showstopper .
The vary foliage on this specimen contrast dark-green with vein of gold , while the salient profane flowers add even greater appeal .
As the name advise , this is another option with variegated foliage and blue flowers , though this time green is blended with creamy ashen on its leaves .
Sowing From Seed
GrowingV.minorfrom come is possible , but it ’s a trickier affair than propagation via division or from nursery plant .
That ’s due to the fact that you ’ll require to give the seeds extra charge in their first few months of life and because they grow more slowly from ejaculate .
Having said that , it ’s perfectly viable to seed periwinkle seeds if you ’d favour to do so .
commence by fill a seed tray with a potting mixture and watering the compost thoroughly so that excess liquid drains from the bottom .
Place 3 - 4 seed in each mobile phone and cover them with 5 millimetre of soil , then firm down softly and mist .
Cover the come tray with a opprobrious formative bag to keep moisture but impede out unmediated sunshine , then site it in an area which relish a stable temperature of around 25 ° C – you may use a high temperature mat or other apparatus if necessary .
After germination has occurred ( normally within 1 - 2 weeks ) , remove the plastic bag and place the tray on a sunny windowsill .
Keep the soil moist and fecundate with a standard fertiliser after around 10 days .
slim out the seedling in each prison cell , keeping only the most healthy , and transplant them to their own pot around 10 cm in diameter once they have strain a elevation of 8 cm and show leaves .
Feed with plant food once more after a two weeks .
Planting
When the plant is freehanded enough to graft alfresco , dig a golf hole big enough to fit the root ball and commit it lightly into it , then sate in the excess country with soil and water soundly .
If you are not plant from seed ( but from division , for deterrent example ) , simply cut off a discussion section of the desired flora , ensure that the solution globe is big enough to survive on its own .
Ensure that cutting are kept at least 30 cm apart to give them enough room for their root to fully modernise and voila !
Your periwinkle will become ego - sufficient in next to no time .
you’re able to use more than one seedling to cover a larger field , but be mindful that a single modestly sized plant is capable of spreading up to 2 m in diameter .
Periwinkle Plant Care
in the main speaking , Madagascar periwinkle are passing easy to care for , which is why they ’re so popular across the British Isles .
For the best consequence , you should plantV.minorin a partially shaded area of the garden .
However , one of its strong qualities is its power to do well in darker spots .
However , invalidate exposing it to direct sunlight as it may burn and die .
Periwinkle prefers soil that is rich and well - draining , but again , it ’s unfussy in this aspect and will bear almost any dirt type .
If you do ascertain that your garden is home to particularly difficult terrain , you’re able to improve it by add up mulch or well - rotted organic affair to the soil prior to planting .
Periwinkle is fair drought insubordinate and wo n’t require much in the way of irrigation after its initial planting .
This is why I like to expend it as a flat coat cover underneath Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and other grandiloquent plant since its roots wo n’t compete for moisture or inhibit their growth .
Pruning periwinkle is entirely optional .
However , its fast - growing nature intend you may want to keep it in checkout so that it does n’t disrupt the harmony of your garden .
If you are going to prune , I recommend that it ’s best to do so once the final bloom of the season have start to fade , which normally occurs in late summertime .
The most unwashed affliction move periwinkle are the same ones which you will likely have live with many other garden plants .
That includes all manner of creepy crawlies , includingaphids , scale , spider mitesand whiteflies .
An app program ofneem oilor ( sooner constitutive ) insecticidal liquid ecstasy usually does the trick .
Meanwhile , fungal diseases such as botrytis blight can also be a job from prison term to time , with the most notable symptoms including foliage spot , wilting and dieback .
you’re able to avoid this job from occurring by focus on the grime rather than the foliage when watering the plants , as well as improving air travel circulation by thinning out the leaves and leaving enough space between plants .
Because it ’s a drouth - resistant works , V.minorplays well with most others and there are no specific specimen that I ’d recommend to play along it .
However , a preferent planting location for me is underneath a garden tree diagram , since most plant will struggle to prosper in the shade thrown by the canopy .
“ I tend to useVinca minorif the target is strictly grind cover to suppress weeds in an area ( particularly dry nicety ) , ” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly .
“ Its tendency to spread inexorably ( though not as aggressively asV. major ) think of that it does n’t associate well with a mixed recurrent planting . ”
Its rest of cultivation and spread out tendencies also make it ideal for filling out a barren stretching of a rockery or efflorescence layer .
Just be measured that it does n’t ill-use on the toes of any neighbouring flowers in the neighborhood .
It ’s also important to ensure that the location is correct before planting since it ’s difficult to uproot after the fact – but more on that in the next subdivision .
Getting Rid Of Periwinkle
While periwinkle can be cunning to get disembarrass of once it has taken custody , it is possible , particularly when dealing withV.minor .
Using a hand trowel , unearth all parts of the plant you wish to move out , include the entirety of the root testicle , and then dispose of it in garden barren bags rather thandumping it on the compost heap .
This latter stone’s throw is especially important if it’sV.majorrather thanV.minoryou’re treatment , as the former can send down raw roots even when unearth .
Only use a herbicide as a very last resort , since contaminant of any plant in the vicinity will kill them off , too .
Apply to the leaves and lease them suck the toxicant down into their roots .
AlthoughV.minoris not as rapid asV.major , it will still spread reasonably quickly once it is set up .
If establish from seed , you should have forbearance and expect thing to progress slow for the first couple of days .
However , after that , or if propagating via air division , the periwinkle will address an area of up to 1 m or more in a single yr .
