Common Name: lesser periwinkle
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Apocynaceae
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 0.25 to 0.50 feet
Spread: 0.50 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Violet blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Ground Cover, Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Colorful, Evergreen
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Heavy Shade, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Culture
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerates close to full shade. Prefers moist, humusy soils in part shade. Plant 8" apart for quick cover of smaller areas. Plant 12-18" apart to cover large areas.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Vinca minor commonly know as vinca or periwinkle is one of the most popular and widely used ground covers. Trailing stems with smooth, evergreen leaves (to 1.5" long) root at the nodes as they go along the ground and quickly spread to form an attractive ground cover. Tubular, lavender blue, phlox-like flowers (to 1 inch across) appear in the leaf axils in spring and continue to flower intermittently throughout summer into fall. Foliage will mound up to 6" tall. Also commonly called dwarf periwinkle and creeping myrtle.
Genus name is from Latin meaning to bind or wind around in reference to the long, flexible stems that were used in wreath making.
Specific epithet means smaller. The leaves of Vinca minor are smaller than those of Vinca major.
'Argenteovariegata' is named for its dark green leaves with irregular creamy white margins. It is a mat forming, low growing perennial that will have violet blue flowers in spring and then rebloom occasionally throughout the growing season. It grows 0.25 to 0.5 ft. tall and 0.5 to 1.5 ft. wide. 'Argenteovariegata' is also known as Vinca minor 'Variegata' and Vinca minor 'Alba Aureavariegata'. It received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993.
Problems
No serious insect problems but vinca stem canker (blight) can damage or kill large patches. Can spread aggressively into adjacent lawns or garden areas.
Uses
Versatile ground cover for shady areas. Good cover for bulbs. Effective on slopes or banks to stabilize soils and prevent erosion.