Overview
Vinca minor is a matforming groundcover in the genus Vinca, part of the Apocynaceae family, with evergreen foliage. It typically grows around 0.2 m tall. Vinca minor grows best in full sun and full shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. Suggested uses include groundcover, erosion control and underplanting. It is native to Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Krym and Netherlands.
About
Vinca minor is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family, native to central and southern Europe. Other vernacular names used in cultivation include small periwinkle, common periwinkle, and sometimes in the United States, myrtle or creeping myrtle.
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Vinca minor
About the genus
Vinca is an Old World genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. The English name periwinkle is shared with the related genus Catharanthus. Some Vinca species are cultivated but have also spread invasively.
Wikipedia contributors, "Vinca", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Vinca
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Vinca
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Full shade
- Soil type
- Sandy, Loamy, Clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained, Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
Vinca minor size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- groundcover, evergreen perennial
- Habit
- Matforming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.2 m
- Suggested uses
- groundcover, erosion control, underplanting
- Native to
- Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Krym, Netherlands
- Toxicity
- Toxic if ingested
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Vinca minor
- Cultivation
- Prefers well-drained soil; tolerates a range of soil types; can grow in full sun to full shade; drought tolerant once established
- Pruning
- Prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage bushiness
- Propagation
- Stem cuttings, division
- Pest resistance
- Aphids
- Disease resistance
- Rust diseases
Frequently asked questions
How do I grow Vinca minor?
Prefers well-drained soil; tolerates a range of soil types; can grow in full sun to full shade; drought tolerant once established.
Where is the best place to plant Vinca minor?
Vinca minor prefers full sun and full shade. It suits exposed and sheltered positions.
What soil does Vinca minor need?
Vinca minor is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including sandy, loamy and clay. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays well-drained to moist but well-drained.
How do I prune Vinca minor?
Prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage bushiness.
How big does Vinca minor grow?
Vinca minor reaches a height of 0.2 m.
Is Vinca minor hardy in the UK?
Vinca minor has an RHS hardiness rating of H7, meaning it is fully hardy throughout the UK, tolerating temperatures below -20°C.
How do I propagate Vinca minor?
Stem cuttings, division.
Is Vinca minor toxic?
Toxic if ingested.
From the Fenn Plants journal
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- Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
- Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.
More in the Vinca genus
- Vinca difformisintermediate periwinkle
- Vinca difformis subsp. sardoaSardinian intermediate periwinkle
- Vinca minor 'Bowles's Variety'Common Periwinkle
- Vinca minor 'Gertrude Jekyll'Lesser Periwinkle