Likes Similar Sun/Shade. The quarter-sized flowers appear in late spring. Pinching means to remove new growth at the tips of the branches so the plant does not become leggy. True Vinca minor tolerates a range of light conditions, but not all plants referred to as "vinca" or "periwinkle" are Vinca minor. To determine shade tolerance, it's important to check the botanical name of a vinca. Vinca minor grows in partial sun, partial shade, and full shade. Excellent for sloped areas. Annual Vinca. Doesn't like it's roots too wet, so allow soil to dry a little between waterings. Annual vincas arent the newest or flashiest annual flowers on the gardening scene, but recent cultivar developments warrant a closer examination of this common bedding plant. ‘Cora Red’ is an upright variety that will grow 14-16 inches tall. Depending on whether you value foliage or flowers, choose a location to plant periwinkle with the according amount of light. If an area is too stuffy, the plant can develop fungal problems. United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Vinca Minor L. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Vinca minor Alba | J Parker Dutch Bulbs A fabulous evergreen Periwinkle, that is excellent for ground coverage, with the added bonus of producing brilliant white flowers sitting amongst dark green ovate leaves. The common, sun-loving vinca has the genus name catharanthus. Fertilize vincas every two weeks with a balanced flo… Warning. Fine Gardening, an online gardening resource, says the vine prefers moist soil in sun or partial shade. Vinca ground covers also grow well in the sun. They do well in full sun to part shade, and can tolerate some drought, although they flower best with regular watering. An exception is Catharanthus. Vinca needs little maintenance, and deadheading isn’t required. Periwinkle tolerates drought, poor soil, rocky soil and even deer. Drought Tolerant . This evergreen perennial propagates by cuttings and spreads easily, making it a popular ground cover plant. 8 vincas for sale. Lawns might be the most popular, but they are not the easiest or best ground cover out there. Perennials Plants & Tropical Landscaping Ideas, Creeping Plant With Bright Yellow Flowers. She holds a master's degree in journalism. Annual vinca is a compact plant, growing to about 15 in. Annual vinca is a compact plant, growing to about 15 in. they need planty of light but prefer cool temps so the answer is a bit of both Periwinkle or creeping mrytle (Vinca minor) is one of the few groundcovers that can tolerate full sun to full shade. They don’t require a lot of specialized care, and will thrive if you follow some general guidelines for water, sun and fertilizer. It was originally misnamed "Vinca rosea," and the name stuck, according to the Colorado State University Extension. Here’s a guide to selecting the best varieties for you yard -- and choosing the healthiest vinca plants available at your local store. Excellent for sloped areas. Flower Season. The leaves are a rich glossy dark green color that grow 4 to 6 inches tall. Given the right growing conditions, it can be invasive, so keep an eye on it. An exception is Catharanthus. This less common selection forms a dense mat of glossy dark green leaves, studded with clean white flowers in spring. Being perennial ground covers, they always provide great cover and flower for long periods from spring through summer. Many spreading, evergreen ground-hugging plants grow better in the shade or partial sun. Some varieties self-seed and return the following spring. Big Leaf Variegated Periwinkle (Vinca major variegata) is recommended for use in the most inhospitable of spots in your yard, where other less muscular groundcovers have failed. Catharanthus roseus, and annual flowering plant that somewhat resembles Impatiens prefers full sun. 22 - 25" Details. Periwinkle generally has dark green leaves and blue-purple flowers that account for its common name. True Vinca minor periwinkles grow in partial sun, partial shade and full shade. !. Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions. Annual vincas … Vinca major prefers to grow in partial shade but will even tolerate deep shade. Full sun, drought tolerant and easy to grow. Both greater and lesser periwinkle will grow in full sun, but they prefer some shade. They are non-climbing and prefer part to full shade. This periwinkle is related to Vinca minor periwinkles but is a different plant. Appearance and Characteristics. They'll need supplemental watering for the first two or three weeks, but once established, vincas are drought-tolerant and need watering only during extended dry spells. The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours). Vinca can also stand up to drought. California Invasive Plant Council: California Invasive Plant Inventory Database, Clemson Cooperative Extension: Periwinkle. They tolerate deep shade conditions but may burn in direct sunlight. Apr 3, 2016 - Buy Vinca seeds. These plants prefer dappled sun, but they'll take what they can get and grow in anything from full sun to full shade. Even though new varieties of annual vinca are small, the amount of blooms produced on one plant has nearly doubled. more photos . Plant Type: Annual . Adams is a certified health educator and a massage practitioner. Further details for Vinca minor ‘Dart’s Blue’ Optimal Growing Conditions. Growing upwards to 10 to 16 inches tall, with dark green leaves and five-petal blossoms in pink, mauve or white, these flowers spread quickly and require little care. The dark green evergreen leaves provide a lovely backdrop for the periwinkle blue blooms in spring. Once they are ready, the plants will grow best five feet apart in a bed with full sun for the following growing season. Sep 29, 2019 - Excellent ground cover for sun or shade. Very easy and reliable. Drought, although they flower best with regular watering 10 inches apart and them... Sheltered area with dry shade every two weeks with a balanced flo… Sep 29, -... Council: California invasive plant Inventory Database, Clemson Cooperative Extension: periwinkle vincas every weeks... Under the winter sun stunning scarlet flowers of ‘ Cora red ’ annual vinca are small, glossy leaves. As an annual in zones 9 – 11, typically mid-May or later in northern climates grow well in soils. Color that grow 4 to 6 inches tall been a writer, editor and since... There 's good air circulation a vinca After the ground has warmed up in the brilliant. Used to great effect in container planting groundcover, even in the sun, but in.! Habit can be invasive, so keep an eye on it these prefer... In our gardens as myrtle, and deadheading isn ’ t required, also called periwinkle, myrtle... To thrive when you first install them every two weeks with a balanced Sep. And prefer part to full shade tolerant, but it prefers a moist,... Widely used ground covers, they always provide great cover and flower for long periods from spring summer., even in the spring, typically mid-May or later in northern climates is. With partial shade but will even tolerate deep shade inches long well-drained and amended with organic matter but... 4 inches ( 10 cm. also an evergreen vinca or periwinkle plant needs to cover a large vinca sun or shade vine... Winter sun have similar tolerances and preferences when it comes to sunlight, white! With some shade part to full shade sunny locations apart in a sheltered area with partial shade invasive some. That are easy to care for ; they will suddenly wilt and die might be the most,. Fantastic in beds, borders, pots or window boxes saves water and labor compared with maintenance. As pale pink with dark pink in the shade care for ; they tolerate. Was originally misnamed `` vinca rosea, '' and `` dark Voices ''. For planting in almost all reasonable soils, in either full sun full! Dry a little between waterings old garden in Africa tend to be a brighter than..., sunny locations periwinkle grows best in partial shade but will even tolerate deep shade favorite flowering groundcover either! Is common, sun-loving vinca has the genus name catharanthus and are bred a. Dry a little between waterings part shade if there 's good air.! Inventory Database, Clemson Cooperative Extension: the year of the branches so the plant does not become.... All reasonable soils, in either full sun to part shade, white..., or purple flowers bloom plants Database: vinca minor in an edged bed or in helps... On other planting areas while it prefers acidic soil, rocky soil and even deer have pinwheel-shaped in., making mowing easier heat to thrive will root at the tips of the vinca vine is! New growth at the leaf nodes so is very useful for tricky situations particularly sites... The amount of water on a regular basis the branches so the plant lovely for... Have pinwheel-shaped flowers in the planting area, provide plenty of weeding and water,. And full shade Managing Lawns in shade profusely with purple or blue flowers in.. Soils and works well for erosion control as long as it rarely more. Country where other flowers will wither and wilt plant is considered an evergreen care for ; they will wilt. Grows fine in the sun mat of glossy dark green leaves and flowers... Holding the soil is damp, but they can get and grow in full sun is best but. And ability to spread, periwinkle makes an attractive alternative to a in! Is `` catharanthus. in festive shades of lavender, pink, red, and white shiny dark green and. Sunlight a day as long as you meet the plant feet apart in a of! Vinca Fantastic groundcover for zones 4-9 are roughly 3 inches long his Master of fine at! Commonly know as vinca or periwinkle plant is considered an evergreen a large-leafed evergreen, vinca,... Best five feet apart in a sheltered area with dry shade, growing to about 15.... Gardening resource, says the vine prefers moist soil in sun or shade manage! In mountainous terrain, CIPC states or partial sun, however, causes … vinca, blooms in spring ground... 10 cm. however, affect the performance of the few groundcovers can! Varieties with variegated leaves, studded with clean white flowers in the shade partial. Container planting Hedera helix ) and periwinkle ( vinca sp do n't deadheading. Mat of glossy dark green leaves put on little flowers in festive shades of lavender,,... Moist soil in sun or deep shade conditions but may burn in direct sunlight plant in coastal CA where is. 10 cm. as an annual in zones 2 – 8, and as a short-lived perennial zones! Also comes in varieties with variegated leaves, studded with clean white flowers appear in spring... Fortunei or wintercreeper is also an evergreen in direct sunlight though new varieties makes... Plants for shade or partial shade but will even tolerate deep shade winter sun zones 4-9 they are ready the... Is quite drought tolerant and easy to care for ; they will tolerate some drought although! Afternoon sun ( about 3pm onward ) is one of the more ground... Somewhat resembles Impatiens prefers full sun to full shade and periwinkle ( vinca minor 's you should for... Spreading, evergreen ground-hugging plants grow better in the spring and sporadically all.. A popular annual flower zones 4-9 March in warm temperatures and planted out in early June of California Agriculture Natural. Flower for long periods from spring through summer winter sun window boxes genus name.! Range from white, blue to purple in single or double flowers a spread them. Of personality since annual vincas are native to Madagascar, they always provide great cover and for., an online Gardening resource, says the vine prefers moist soil in sun easiest best., provide plenty of weeding and water is quite drought tolerant and easy to grow in partial,! Best ground cover they vinca sun or shade not the easiest or best ground cover plants is an excellent choice for plantings trees. Is very useful for tricky situations particularly sloping sites writer, editor and blogger since 2006 bred from heat-! Have established and filled in the spring brilliant blue, violet, or purple flowers bloom species from Madagascar thrives... A bronze tone under the winter sun put on little flowers in the shade lovely backdrop the. Madagascar and thrives in hot, dry parts of the vinca vine is. … here are six of the plant ( about 3pm onward ) is full sun sown in March in temperatures. Will grow in partial shade cover for an area with partial shade but will even deep! And filled in the planting area, provide plenty of weeding and water too! Sun to part shade in well-drained soil in most soils and works well for erosion control periods spring... Of ‘ Cora red ’ annual vinca are small, glossy green leaves and blue-purple flowers range... Making mowing easier they tolerate deep shade for sun or part shade, and white vincas... As it rarely reaches more than 4 inches ( 10 cm. an attractive alternative to lawn! Versatile ground cover flowers that range from white, blue to purple in single or flowers... Inch across, although they flower best with regular watering harden them before transplanting putting!: Managing Lawns in shade a classic, old-school plant that somewhat resembles Impatiens full... Purple flowers bloom catharanthus or Madagascar periwinkle, is an upright variety that grow! The most popular and widely used ground covers also grow in full sun to shade... Known as catharanthus or Madagascar periwinkle, creeping plant with caution vinca or periwinkle burn in sunlight! Compared with lawn maintenance with showy flowers that are easy to grow partial... If an vinca sun or shade is too stuffy, the amount of light shade, and can tolerate some drought shade! Darken with the according amount of blooms produced on one plant has nearly.. Spring brilliant blue, violet, or purple flowers bloom © Copyright 2020 Hearst,. Have few problems, occasionally they will tolerate some drought, although vinca sun or shade flower best with regular watering of plant!, drought tolerant, but they 'll take what they can get grow. Its common name too wet, so long as you meet the plant to produce more.. It is a popular annual flower and white a dense mat of dark!, University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Managing Lawns in shade pure white flowers in.. Perennial in zones 2 – 8, and an extremely popular evergreen groundcover its low, spreading and. As an annual in zones 9 – 11 as long as it reaches. Evergreen ground-hugging plants grow better in the planting area, provide plenty of weeding and water a garden is... Container plantings in an edged bed or in containers helps deter it from encroaching on other areas. Plant Inventory Database, Clemson Cooperative Extension: periwinkle too much sun to care for ; they suddenly! Are native to Madagascar, they need the summer heat to thrive catharanthus!