Vinca minor
lesser periwinkle
A mat-forming evergreen shrub with trailing, rooting shoots and opposite pairs of glossy, dark green leaves. From mid-spring to late summer it produces violet-blue flowers to 3cm across
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Blue Purple | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Blue Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full shade
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- Yes
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Matforming
- Genus
Vinca can be evergreen subshrubs or herbaceous perennials, with simple, paired leaves and solitary, 5-lobed, salver-shaped flowers in the leaf axils
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Europe, S. Russia, N. Caucasus
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in any but very dry soil, in full sun (for best flowering) to partial shade. May have the potential to become a nuisance if not managed well
Propagation
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Banks and slopes
- Flower borders and beds
- Ground cover
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning
To restrict growth, cut back hard in early spring
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
May be susceptible to rust diseases
Get involved
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