Periwinkle: Growing Evergreen Vinca Vine

If you're looking for an attractive year-round ground cover, then periwinkle (Vinca minor), also known as creeping myrtle, may be for you. This evergreen plant is highly adaptable, growing in areas where many other plants will not. The elegant little flowers, which may be blue or purple, will also add a splash of color from spring through fall. There are also burgundy and white varieties available.

The shiny, dark green leaves of periwinkle remain all year so the coverage area continues to carpet the landscape throughout winter. There is a variegated species as well, which looks especially lovely in shady areas. The creeping stems of periwinkle vine root nearly anywhere they touch the ground. This is why the plant makes such a good ground cover. However, caution should be taken when planting in flower beds, as this quick-spreading growth habit can also become invasive. Therefore, you may want to avoid placing it in areas where other plants may be taken over. The larger leaf variety (V. major) is the most aggressive species.

Periwinkle tolerates full sun in moist areas but prefers partial shade in fertile, humus-rich soil. It will, however, adapt to a wide variety of soil types. The plant can also tolerate some drought. Periwinkle performs well under shallow-rooted trees, in small shade or woodland gardens, in shrub borders, or on partially shaded hillsides. I found that the plant also does well in containers where it can spill over the edges. Once established, the plant needs little care. However, some people partially mow the ground cover vine in the fall to stimulate thicker growth. While some people practice pruning of this plant to keep it under control, take heed where the 'cuttings' are tossed.

This plant will quickly take root and establish itself wherever it lands. Therefore, if you're looking to propagate periwinkle, this can easily be accomplished with stem cuttings or division, as it roots quite readily. I found this especially useful when I needed quick coverage on a partially shaded slope. Since there was a patch already growing in a nearby area of our wooded property, I simply dug some up and transplanted it right where I needed coverage. In no time I had a blanket of green carpeting the hillside with pretty blue flowers popping up the following spring.

Periwinkle is seldom bothered by insect pests or disease. However, in areas with excessive moisture and humid conditions, fungal problems may occur.