Vinca Minor: Care Tips & Design Ideas

by Rodica SEO – February 28, 2023

What makes your garden even more beautiful? 

Your garden may become more exciting when bees, birds, and butterflies appear. Planting flowers with these elements in mind will attract these species and animals, as they are frequently attracted to plants that have pollen, nectar, or seeds.

Periwinkle - Vinca minor - TN Nursery

Vinca minor, also known as Common periwinkle or Creeping myrtle, is a famous groundcover plant used in landscaping and gardening for decades. It is aesthetically pleasing and has various environmental benefits that make it an ideal choice for eco-conscious gardeners. Another environmental advantage of Vinca Minor is its ability to improve soil health. As a groundcover plant, it helps to protect the soil from erosion.

In this article, we will discuss Vinca Minor's benefits, how to grow and care for it and garden design ideas for incorporating it into your landscape.

Environmental Benefits of Vinca Minor

Vinca Minor is an excellent choice for an eco-friendly groundcover due to its numerous advantages. One of the most significant benefits of Vinca Minor is its ability to reduce soil erosion. Its thick foliage helps to anchor the soil in place, preventing it from washing away during heavy rainfalls. This is especially important in sloped areas where runoff is a significant concern.

Another benefit of Vinca Minor is its ability to suppress weed growth. Its dense growth habit prevents sunlight from reaching the soil, making it difficult for weeds to grow. This means that Vinca Minor can reduce the need for chemical herbicides that can be harmful to the environment.

Vinca Minor also provides a habitat for wildlife. Its dense foliage shelters small animals such as chipmunks, rabbits, and birds. The plant's attractive blue-purple flowers also attract bees and butterflies, making it an excellent addition to any wildlife garden.

Vinca Minor is a low-maintenance ground cover that does not require excessive watering or chemicals. Thus, it is an environmentally sustainable option for maintaining a beautiful landscape.

Vinca Minor - The Low-Maintenance Groundcover

Vinca Minor is an easy-to-grow plant that requires minimal care. It is drought-tolerant, meaning it can survive extended periods of dry weather without wilting or dying. Because of this, it is an excellent choice for regions with limited rainfall or gardeners who want to conserve water.

Here is the list of reasons it's one of the lowest maintenance groundcovers:

  • Drought-tolerant: Vinca Minor can survive extended periods of dry weather without wilting or dying. The low water requirement makes it a perfect choice for areas with limited rainfall or gardeners who want to conserve water.
  • Resistant to pests and diseases: Vinca Minor is a hardy plant not susceptible to many pests or diseases. This means it does not require frequent spraying of pesticides or fungicides to maintain its health.
  • Does not require frequent mowing or trimming: The plant's growth habit is low and dense, so it does not require frequent mowing or trimming to maintain its appearance. This makes it ideal for those who want to reduce the time spent maintaining their landscape.
  • Can thrive in poor soil conditions: It can flourish in a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soil. It does not require nutrient-rich soil, making it ideal for areas with poor soil quality.
  • Self-seeds and spreads quickly: Vinca Minor can spread rapidly and fill bare spots in the landscape. It does not require frequent replanting or additional maintenance to maintain its appearance.

To put it simply, Vinca Minor is a low-maintenance groundcover that is easy to care for and can thrive in various conditions. Its ability to tolerate drought, resist pests and diseases, and spread quickly makes it an ideal choice for those who want to reduce the time and effort spent maintaining their landscape.

How You Can Grow and Care for Vinca Minor

Choosing the right location and soil type is essential for Vinca Minor's successful growth. It prefers light shade to full shade and well-drained soil. This plant can grow in a wide range of soil types, such as clay, loam, and sandy soil. However, it prefers slightly acidic soil between the pH range of 6.0 and 7.5.

When planting Vinca Minor, space the plants 12 to 18 inches apart to allow for their spread. Ensure the soil is moist before planting to prevent the roots from drying. Water the plants regularly in the first growing season to establish their roots. Once planted, Vinca Minor requires minimal watering.

Fertilization is not necessary for Vinca Minor, as it can thrive in poor soil conditions. However, adding organic matter to the soil can help to improve soil quality and provide nutrients to the plant.

Vinca Minor requires minimal pruning and maintenance. However, the plant can spread rapidly and may require occasional thinning to prevent overcrowding. The quickest way to do this is to cut back the stems to their base using pruning shears.

Design Ideas Using Vinca Minor

Vinca Minor is a versatile plant for various landscape designs. Its low-growing habit makes it ideal for edging paths, walkways, and garden beds. It can also fill in bare spots in shaded areas.

One design idea is to combine Vinca Minor with other plants to create a natural-looking ground cover. Hostas, ferns, and heucheras are excellent companion plants for Vinca Minor. They have similar shade requirements and create a visually appealing combination of foliage textures and colors. Similarly, combining Vinca Minor with spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodils or crocuses can add a pop of color to the landscape.

Vinca Minor can also be used to create a green carpet under trees or to cover slopes. Plants like these look great in a natural and lush landscape, along with other low-maintenance plants such as pachysandra and ivy.

For a more formal landscape design, you can use it in conjunction with stone or brick pathways or garden borders. Its dense growth habit can help to soften the edges of hardscaping and create a natural-looking transition between the garden and the hardscape.

Takeaways on the Vinca Minor

It's important to remember that plants play a vital role in our environment; however, some plants are more environmentally friendly than others. And if you are looking for the right ground cover plant, Vinca Minor is an excellent choice for an environmentally friendly ground cover.

It offers several benefits, such as reducing soil erosion, suppressing weed growth, and providing habitat for wildlife. Also, its low-maintenance requirements make it an ideal option for gardeners who want to conserve water and reduce the time spent maintaining their landscape.

Moreover, it is a versatile plant that can be used in various landscape designs. Vinca Minor is a great addition to any landscape, whether as a groundcover to fill in bare spots in shaded areas or to create a green carpet under trees.

So, if you want to add a touch of natural beauty to your garden while being environmentally conscious, consider planting Vinca Minor this season!

Shop Vinca Minor

Visit our online shop for a wide selection of plants and trees, or come say hi at our store location in Tennessee!

We offer fast shipping nationwide, so you can start transforming your garden today!

If you have any questions about the Vinca Minor or any other plant needs, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected], we’d love to hear from you!

Products from the article

Vinca Minor Periwinkle - TN Nursery

Vinca Minor

Vinca Minor - Periwinkle Vinca minor or periwinkle, is an evergreen groundcover plant that has delicate purple blooms in Spring and summer and can be maintained year-round with little effort. Easy to care for and adaptable to shade and sun conditions, it forms a dense and textured swathe of foliage and flowers ideal for borders, beds, and shade gardens.   Vinca Minor Plant Characteristics and Growth Its smooth, dark green leaves remain in full display year-round, giving your yard a predictable hue. This perennial comes into bloom in spring with lovely, star-shaped blue-to-violet flowers that provide a splash of color. The flowers bloom early to mid-spring and continue through early summer, attracting bees and butterflies.&nbspThis short-stemmed plant quickly grows into large mats, making it a perfect ground cover between trees or beds. It can be planted quickly and, once established, does not require much upkeep. It grows well in various soils and in partial shade to full sun, though it’s most successful in shady places on well-drained soils. This perennial is resistant to many of the most common garden pests and diseases, so it is an excellent option for those who love keeping their gardens minimal. It needs occasional watering, and its evergreen leaves ensure year-round interest, even in the winter. Long-Lasting Blooms and Lifespan of Vinca Minor Perennial Vines It flowers for a few weeks in the spring, and its evergreen habit keeps it fresh all year. Being perennial, it will recur year after year, providing your garden with lasting grace and minimal upkeep. Here at TN Nursery, we carry only premium plants that will make a lasting impression on your garden and provide you with year-round blooms and lush green foliage. The easy care, long blooming, and evergreen foliage make it an excellent groundcover for gardeners who want a beautiful, easy-care, color-rich, and texture-filled addition to their landscape. Most Asked Questions About This Perennial  Do periwinkle plants come back every year? Yes, they return every Spring and live for decades Do periwinkle like sun or shade? These vine plants thrive in shaded areas Why is it called a graveyard plant? They grow near shaded banks and slopes, often near the woods bear graveyards because most is adjoining wooded areas, to obtain the shade needed. Thus, they got their name as graveyard vines.
From $8.99
From $8.99
hosta plant - TN Nursery

Hosta

Hosta - Plantain Lilies Hostas are shade-loving perennials known for their large, heart-shaped, and often variegated leaves and spikes of bell-shaped flowers, making them popular choices for garden borders and landscaping in low-light areas. They are renowned for their lush foliage and graceful appearance, which offer many benefits when incorporated into landscaping designs. These versatile perennials have gained popularity for their ability to enhance outdoor spaces with their aesthetic appeal, adaptability, and ease of maintenance. It is an attractive herbaceous plant that can grow up to 4 feet in height, although a height of 18 inches is more common. There are several species of them, each with slight differences in leaf color. Each species has a different bloom, making exceptional focal points in any garden. Hosta Has Stunning Leaves The type seen most commonly in the United States is the "Keepsake." The charming green leaves ringed with yellow accents are popular because of their hardiness in different climates and the beautiful vistas they create in a garden. Sometimes, the lighter color rings are shades of white rather than yellow, but they don't lose any eye-catching effects. They have leaves of a single color, usually dark green. All their leaves are sturdy and ribbed, even if they're longer and tapered rather than cheerfully oval. Compliment Your Landscape With Hostas Most versions have pretty purple or white flowers that bloom in the early summer through the beginning of fall. The flower buds form in the middle of spring and are generally the same color as the flowers. Even when they're just budding, they are beautiful plants that complement everything else in the garden. Once the buds bloom, the flowers form trumpet, bell, or elongated pendulous shapes. Only one version of these flowers has a strong scent, called the "August Lily." It's a shy flower, blooming in the evening and closing up again by morning, so it'll brighten up any garden when the sun goes down. It Does Great With Other Plants When they are surrounded by flowers of similar colors, such as California bluebells for the species with violet flowers or tuberose for the white-flowered species, it creates a breathtaking effect. Alternating the various species in concentric rings would increase their appeal and let them truly shine. The blooms, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, are essential for pollinators. The flowers provide nectar, and the leaves collect dew in the mornings, allowing these little creatures to drink while visiting the garden. These plants grow in partial shade or full shade, hence suitable for gardens that may offer limited sunlight. They grow well in well-draining and nutrient-filled soils and should be watered consistently, especially during dry periods.  They are perennials and go dormant in winter. Prune dead foliage in the fall and then put a layer of mulch to protect the roots from freezing.  They come in all sorts of sizes, from small miniatures to large sprawling plants. Their foliage comprises beautiful green, blue and gold that may have different patterns.  Snails or slugs are common enemies for the plants. You can use eggshells or diatomaceous earth around the base. You can also reduce pest problems by maintaining a clean environment and ensuring good air circulation in the garden.   Hostas are perfect for container gardening and, therefore, can be placed on the patio or in other small spaces. It is advisable to plant the flower in a pot with a good drainage hole; water it frequently and place it in a shaded area.
From $16.99
$16.99
Vinca Minor Periwinkle - TN Nursery

Vinca Minor

Vinca Minor - Periwinkle Vinca minor or periwinkle, is an evergreen groundcover plant that has delicate purple blooms in Spring and summer and can be maintained year-round with little effort. Easy to care for and adaptable to shade and sun conditions, it forms a dense and textured swathe of foliage and flowers ideal for borders, beds, and shade gardens.   Vinca Minor Plant Characteristics and Growth Its smooth, dark green leaves remain in full display year-round, giving your yard a predictable hue. This perennial comes into bloom in spring with lovely, star-shaped blue-to-violet flowers that provide a splash of color. The flowers bloom early to mid-spring and continue through early summer, attracting bees and butterflies.&nbspThis short-stemmed plant quickly grows into large mats, making it a perfect ground cover between trees or beds. It can be planted quickly and, once established, does not require much upkeep. It grows well in various soils and in partial shade to full sun, though it’s most successful in shady places on well-drained soils. This perennial is resistant to many of the most common garden pests and diseases, so it is an excellent option for those who love keeping their gardens minimal. It needs occasional watering, and its evergreen leaves ensure year-round interest, even in the winter. Long-Lasting Blooms and Lifespan of Vinca Minor Perennial Vines It flowers for a few weeks in the spring, and its evergreen habit keeps it fresh all year. Being perennial, it will recur year after year, providing your garden with lasting grace and minimal upkeep. Here at TN Nursery, we carry only premium plants that will make a lasting impression on your garden and provide you with year-round blooms and lush green foliage. The easy care, long blooming, and evergreen foliage make it an excellent groundcover for gardeners who want a beautiful, easy-care, color-rich, and texture-filled addition to their landscape. Most Asked Questions About This Perennial  Do periwinkle plants come back every year? Yes, they return every Spring and live for decades Do periwinkle like sun or shade? These vine plants thrive in shaded areas Why is it called a graveyard plant? They grow near shaded banks and slopes, often near the woods bear graveyards because most is adjoining wooded areas, to obtain the shade needed. Thus, they got their name as graveyard vines.
From $8.99
From $8.99
hosta plant - TN Nursery

Hosta

Hosta - Plantain Lilies Hostas are shade-loving perennials known for their large, heart-shaped, and often variegated leaves and spikes of bell-shaped flowers, making them popular choices for garden borders and landscaping in low-light areas. They are renowned for their lush foliage and graceful appearance, which offer many benefits when incorporated into landscaping designs. These versatile perennials have gained popularity for their ability to enhance outdoor spaces with their aesthetic appeal, adaptability, and ease of maintenance. It is an attractive herbaceous plant that can grow up to 4 feet in height, although a height of 18 inches is more common. There are several species of them, each with slight differences in leaf color. Each species has a different bloom, making exceptional focal points in any garden. Hosta Has Stunning Leaves The type seen most commonly in the United States is the "Keepsake." The charming green leaves ringed with yellow accents are popular because of their hardiness in different climates and the beautiful vistas they create in a garden. Sometimes, the lighter color rings are shades of white rather than yellow, but they don't lose any eye-catching effects. They have leaves of a single color, usually dark green. All their leaves are sturdy and ribbed, even if they're longer and tapered rather than cheerfully oval. Compliment Your Landscape With Hostas Most versions have pretty purple or white flowers that bloom in the early summer through the beginning of fall. The flower buds form in the middle of spring and are generally the same color as the flowers. Even when they're just budding, they are beautiful plants that complement everything else in the garden. Once the buds bloom, the flowers form trumpet, bell, or elongated pendulous shapes. Only one version of these flowers has a strong scent, called the "August Lily." It's a shy flower, blooming in the evening and closing up again by morning, so it'll brighten up any garden when the sun goes down. It Does Great With Other Plants When they are surrounded by flowers of similar colors, such as California bluebells for the species with violet flowers or tuberose for the white-flowered species, it creates a breathtaking effect. Alternating the various species in concentric rings would increase their appeal and let them truly shine. The blooms, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, are essential for pollinators. The flowers provide nectar, and the leaves collect dew in the mornings, allowing these little creatures to drink while visiting the garden. These plants grow in partial shade or full shade, hence suitable for gardens that may offer limited sunlight. They grow well in well-draining and nutrient-filled soils and should be watered consistently, especially during dry periods.  They are perennials and go dormant in winter. Prune dead foliage in the fall and then put a layer of mulch to protect the roots from freezing.  They come in all sorts of sizes, from small miniatures to large sprawling plants. Their foliage comprises beautiful green, blue and gold that may have different patterns.  Snails or slugs are common enemies for the plants. You can use eggshells or diatomaceous earth around the base. You can also reduce pest problems by maintaining a clean environment and ensuring good air circulation in the garden.   Hostas are perfect for container gardening and, therefore, can be placed on the patio or in other small spaces. It is advisable to plant the flower in a pot with a good drainage hole; water it frequently and place it in a shaded area.
From $16.99
$16.99
Shop Now

Related posts

chevron_left chevron_right