Vinca minor
Lesser periwinkle
Common names: Common periwinkle, Periwinkle
At a glance
- Light
- Shade
- Pot size
- from 3 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- Apr–Jun
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Origin
- Native to Germany
Description
Vinca minor, commonly known as small periwinkle, is a low-growing evergreen groundcover suited to shady to semi-shady spots under trees and shrubs. From mid-April to early May it produces numerous blue, star-shaped flowers on glossy dark-green foliage. The stems root at soil contact, gradually forming a dense, closed carpet that can thrive even under tough root competition. All plant parts are mildly toxic, especially to children and pets, so keep it out of reach or educate about its toxicity.
Care instructions
During establishment, water regularly; thereafter it tolerates drier periods well. A pruning in early spring (late February to mid-March) keeps the groundcover compact and encourages new growth. Because the plant spreads in the soil, monitor its spread to prevent encroachment into neighboring beds. A mulch layer of leaf or bark humus helps retain soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Wear gloves when handling cuttings, as the sap can irritate skin.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringApr–Jun
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, humus-rich, dry
Lesser periwinkle likes loose, humus-rich soil that lets water through well. It is less happy on heavy, waterlogged loam, although it holds its own as a robust ground cover. It is easy-going about pH and copes well with slightly acidic to slightly chalky soil; only strongly acidic sites suit it less.
Feeding
Light feeder
As an undemanding ground cover, lesser periwinkle needs practically no feeding. A thin layer of leaf compost in spring is entirely sufficient. In nutrient-rich garden soils, you can even do without it altogether, with no loss of fullness in the plant.
Overwintering
As its name says, lesser periwinkle is evergreen and hardy, keeping its foliage all year round. It needs no special winter protection and copes well with hard frost. Only in very exposed, windy spots does it welcome a loose layer of mulch in the first winter after planting.
Propagation
Methods
- Division
- Cuttings
- Layering
The easiest way to propagate lesser periwinkle is by dividing established clumps in spring or autumn. The creeping shoots root by themselves wherever they touch the ground, so you can simply separate rooted sections and move them. Cuttings about 10 to 15 cm long also take reliably if you insert them in humus-rich soil and keep them evenly moist. Patience pays off: after one to two years, a dense, closed carpet has formed.
For your garden
Grow Lesser periwinkle yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
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