Periwinkle Plant

Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

Periwinkle (Vinca minor) is a small evergreen perennial plant that belongs to the Apocynaceae family. It is native to Europe but is commonly found in North America, Asia, and Australia.

Periwinkle is a low-growing plant that typically reaches a height of 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) and spreads up to 18 inches (45 cm). Its leaves are glossy and dark green, with a leathery texture and a slightly pointed tip. Depending on the variety, the flowers are small, star-shaped, blue, purple, or white.

Periwinkle is commonly used as a groundcover plant because it spreads quickly and forms dense mats. It is also used as an accent plant in rock gardens, borders, and containers. In addition, periwinkle has medicinal properties and is used for soil erosion and environmental plantings.

Periwinkle, or Vinca minor, is an evergreen perennial vine with sprawling, dark green leaves. The horticulture team at TN Nursery recommends this plant for use as a groundcover plant.

Periwinkle is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. It arrived in North America in the 1700s as a decorative plant and gained popularity for its eye-catching good looks and hardiness.

Periwinkle features blue-violet to purple flowers, measuring one to two inches wide. The contrast of the graceful, five-petaled purple flowers blossoming against the glossy verdant foliage creates a striking display. The vines produce their dainty purple and blue flowers in the middle of spring and intermittently throughout the year in most growing zones.  

Vinca minor foliage is evergreen, so you have lovely year-round color anyplace you grow it.

Periwinkle Is Excellent Ground Cover

When growing periwinkle as a groundcover plant, the perennial vines fan out as much as eighteen inches to three feet, creating a dense mat of vines and flowers. Over time they rob weeds of their nutrition and eliminate the need to perform the mundane task of weeding. Additionally, Vinca minor can help avoid soil erosion.

Besides creeping low across the ground, gardeners can train this vine to climb a short trellis or a rustic rock wall or fence for an instantly charming look. They will grow to one- to three-foot heights, adding color, texture, and visual interest to these structures without overpowering them. If growing periwinkle as a climber, you will need to "assist" it in the early stages. After it grabs hold of the structure, it will perform its job with little effort on your part.

Vinca Minor for the Shade Garden

Finding the best plants for a shade garden can challenge almost every gardener. But periwinkle does not mind the shade and takes delight in partially shady spots.

Periwinkle (Vinca Minor)is available online at TN Nursery

Periwinkle grows across most of the forty-eight contiguous American states. Vinca minor is disease-resistant, pest-resistant, and drought-tolerant. This versatile groundcover or climber plant will thrive with little assistance from you, aside from training it to climb (if so desired). This plant is well worth the purchase!

Are you ready to order periwinkle? TN Nursery looks forward to fulfilling your order.