The cheery flowers on vinca are accented by glossy green leaves. They self spread. You can also plant them in the ground but in and around the southwest it is considered an annual. You can cut it anywhere there is a node. Dampen the potting soil using a spray bottle. The likelihood of vinca disease is small, but you can further reduce the risk by planting disease-resistant cultivars like "Cora" and "Nirvana." Full sun is best, although some afternoon shade is fine. When shopping for vinca, make sure plants have lush, dark green leaves. Annual vinca plants bear single blooms with five petals that frequently touch or overlap from early summer until the first frost. Annual vinca is best grown in a sandy loam soil in a full sun location. It is also called lesser periwinkle or creeping myrtle. Annual vinca (Catharanthus roseus) is commonly used for summer color in landscapes.It thrives in sunny areas and is fairly drought tolerant. It can be invasive … With a bit of effort, you can reap their benefits by sowing their seeds and caring for them into maturity to enjoy for years to come. You really don't have to do anything. These perform best in shady areas. So, they are widely used as groundcovers. Californians should choose other noninvasive ground covers for shady areas. Do not plant near other specimens in the flower bed or garden, as it may overtake and choke out valuable plantings. Perennial vincas (Vinca minor, V. major) bloom primarily in spring. Although tolerant of drought, it will perform best with weekly water soaked in rather than sprayed from overhead. Vincas are free-flowering and self-cleaning, and no deadheading is necessary. One small plant can spread to 8 feet (2.4 m.) across. A number of cultivars exist. Dip the bottom 1 inch of … Cover the seeds enough to ensure darkness, and use supplemental heat if necessary to provide an ideal germination temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Periwinkle is best used for controlling erosion as described above. Seeds should be started indoors. Shopping for Vinca Once you know the type of vinca you’re looking form, we have tips to make sure you get the best-quality plants from your local garden center. Vinca Plant Care. In fact, feeding can reduce blooms. Periwinkle's big cousin (Vinca major) is known as bigleaf or greater periwinkle. Bring out the contrasting eye of the vinca flower by pairing them with a flower that matches the flower’s eye. Annual vinca loves full sun. "Flore Pleno" has double blue flowers, "Honeydew" has lavender-blue flowers, and "Atropurpurea" has reddish-purple blooms .Slower-growing cultivars like "Illumination" and "Bowles' Variety" make good container plants, with "Bowles' Variety" reblooming occasionally into summer and fall. Growing periwinkle as a ground cover is common, as it rarely reaches more than 4 inches (10 cm.) Purplish-blue flowers are most common, although there are some cultivators that produce white and red flowers. Dividing established plants is the quickest way to propagate, but if you want lots of new plants taking cuttings or sowing seeds may work better. They exude a milky juice when broken. Summer-flowering, or annual, vincas (Catharanthus rosea) have rose-colored flowers in the species, but cultivars have a wider range of flower colors, mostly from white through pinks, reds and purples. They are deer-resistant and rabbit-proof flowers, and few insects … Horticulturists have been hard at work cultivating new colors in plants with showy flowers that are easy to start from seed. The foliage of vinca plants is dark green and leathery looking. Watering too frequently is a common mistake with annual vinca. Oblong to ovate leaves are opposite, simple, ½ to 2 inches long, glossy, with a short petiole. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. This is a plant that thrives in dry soil.. Vinca will tolerate some freezing temperatures, so removing the mulch in early spring is best for the vinca. The genus Vinca includes six species of plants, of which the ‘vinca minor’ and ‘vinca major’ are more commonly grown in the gardens as groundcover. around my 1885 house. They typically stand only 3 to 6 inches off the ground, but their trailing stems can reach 18 inches in length. This plant thrives in hot and humid weather. The large-flowered "Pacifica" and "Tropicana" series do well in areas with high heat and humidity, and the "Mediterranean" series has trailing growth that cascades over container edges. Sowing Seed Indoors: Sow vinca indoors 12-15 weeks before the last frost. They do take time to flower, however, so start seeds indoors 12 to 16 weeks before your average last frost. Annual vinca, Catharanthus, may be grown from seed sown early indoors and transplanted outside after frost or planted as a potted plant. Spread a 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch around the plants with a trowel or garden fork. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Depending on the variety, the plants are 8 to 18 inches tall and spread from 1 to 2 feet. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. A safe bet is to plant your vincas around the same time you set out your tomato transplants: when evening temperatures average 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The "Carpet" series offers very short, 3- to 4-inch-tall plants that each spread to 2 feet wide. Yes, vinca can be aggressive, but I am grateful for that, given the difficulty of getting anything to grow under my Norway maples or in the dirty fill (old nails, broken crockery, etc.) Plant spread is typically 12 to 18 inches. These all bloom from early summer to frost and are hardy in USDA zones 9 through 12. Abundant flowers bloom continuously throughout the summer. hooked_on_lights. Plants with yellow variegated leaves are "Aureovariegata," "Golden Bowles," "Maculata," "Illumination" and "Variegata." Vinca is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae, native to Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia. Tam13317878. All vincas are usually ground covers or container plants. Vinca flowers, also known as periwinkle, are perennial flowering plants that thrive in shade and are tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. It is also called Madagascar periwinkle or just vinca. The University of Florida Extension reports that vinca flower vines grow 7 to 24 inches high and wide. Catharanthus Roseus. The blooms on vinca minor are relatively small- … Growing seasons which have been especially rainy can help contribute to the spread of disease among vinca plants. This plant generally does not need to be fed. "Emily Joy" has pink-tinged white flowers. It will languish a bit if planted too early in the cool spring, and will begin to diminish as the weather cools in fall. A moderate weekly watering is ideal, but do not water at all if your garden is getting regular rainfall. Reply. Both the species are known to be invasive, as they can spread quite rapidly. Periwinkle (Vinca minor) is an excellent evergreen groundcover with dark green foliage. Spread 1 to 2 inches of mulch around the vinca plants. Until recent years, the range of … She has years of experience in caring for flowers and plants. Vinca minor plants—also known as periwinkle flowers or creeping myrtles—are beautiful, purple flowering plants that can provide great ground cover for your yard with a minimal amount of maintenance. Many varieties feature a contrasting eye. Depending on the variety, the plants are 6 to 18 inches tall with a similar spread. Watch out for plants that have pale green or yellowing leaves; this is often a sign that the plant was stressed. Cynthia Jagneaux. Evergreen perennial lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor), also called creeping myrtle, according to the University of Vermont, is a ground cover for shady areas in USDA zones 4 through 9. Peach and white fl… They will also do great in containers. Keep the mulch two to three inches away from the plants' stems to prevent the development of rot. Jamie has written about gardening and special occasion flowers since 2011. Vinca minor grows about 6 inches tall, spreading in all directions by sending out long tra… Thin stems have medium-sized green leaves, with blue flowers in spring on the species. Some older types of vinca can self seed in the garden, especially in subtropical areas. It is more drought-tolerant than it looks, so avoid overwatering, and use well-draining soil to prevent root rot. Annual vinca (Catharanthus roseus) is a tropical perennial that is grown as an annual in most regions. Remove the leaves from the top halves of the stems. Plants are 6 inches tall and spread 2 to 4 feet wide. Treating rotting, wilting Vinca flowers Infection in a pot or container. Vinca Vinca minor Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Asterids Order: Gentianales Family: Apocynaceae Subfamily: Rauvolfioideae Tribe: Vinceae Subtribe: Vincinae M.E.Endress Genus: Vinca L. 1753 Synonyms Pervinca Mill. The dead turf is still there. Take advantage of the fast growth habit of vincas. This can be confusing because there are other plants in the genus Vinca that are perennial vines, which are also called vinca or periwinkle. Summer-flowering vinca is hardy in USDA zones 9 through 12, and is treated in lower hardiness zones as an annual. Plant the rooted cuttings in potting soil in late winter and grow into nursery plants to set out when the weather warms the following spring. They are considered a nuisance plant in tropical areas but around the southwest, this will not become a problem. For example, you can plant white vincas with a burgundy eye alongside burgundy zinnias, or pair peach vincas with a red eye with dramatic wine-hued celosia plants. Perennial vincas (Vinca minor, Vinca major) have blue flowers except for a few cultivars with white or purple flowers, and bloom primarily in spring. The English name periwinkle is shared with the related genus Catharanthus. Common periwinkle (Vinca minor) is an ideal plant for tough spots. Flower colors range from intense pure red, pink, white and purple such as exhibited by the "Victory" series, to pastel pink, lilac and coral and also pure colors centered by a contrasting central eye. Annual vincas bloom through the summer. Many people will broadcast spread them across an area. Their mounding habit makes them great for ground cover, with prolific flowers during the summer. No matter your preference, all are attractive to butterflies and are rabbit resistant. The vines need little care. Don’t rush to put out vinca plants in the spring. Upright varieties work well in mass plantings, especially in landscapes where you're looking to make a big impact with little maintenance. Remove the mulch the next spring when the temperatures begin to moderate. Because of their ability to root and spread, they can help hold the soil in place. Sow Vinca seeds outdoors after all danger of frost. White-margined variegated cultivars are "Albo-variegata," "Argenteo-variegata," "Ralph Shugert" and "Sterling Silver." Sow seeds in seed-starting formula and cover with 1/8 … 10 years ago. I'd like it to spread and fill in as quickly as possible. The Invasive Plant Atlas also reports big periwinkle as being invasive in Western and Southwestern states and some Southern and Eastern states. hi, are you talking about vinca vine or vinca flowers? Also known as Madagascar periwinkle, these aren't the newest or flashiest annual flowers on the gardening scene, but recent cultivar developments warrant a closer examination of this common bedding plant. Spread the mulch evenly over the vinca, covering the foliage completely. Keep the soil moist for a few weeks or until new vinca vines are established, which is indicated by new growth. Hi, I want to plant vinca minor between the sidewalk and the street, replacing the grass I killed last year. The newer vincas are easier to start from seed than their predecessors. "Heat Wave" is a series that tolerates drier heat. Annual vinca produces 1- to 2-inch-diameter flowers above glossy, dark green foliage. I've just finished planting over 500 vinca minor plants on a sloped area. In a plant that was already reliably drought-tolerant and pest-free, what more could you ask? Plants bloom in March or April and sometimes again in the fall. on May 29, 2017. This can be important on the side of a hill, where soil erosion might be a problem. Root them in water over the winter. Although it prefers rich, slightly moist soil, it tolerates a wide range of conditions, including clay, alkaline soils and drought. These flowers will grow more prolifically as temperatures rise, keeping your sultry summer days full of color until fall. Several flower color options are available - pink, purple, red, white, magenta - to lend a splash of intensity. Pair them with other heat and sun lovers like million bells, moss rose, lantanas, or penta flowers. Vinca flowers are typically used as a ground cover in the garden, as they are low growing and spread rapidly once established. Vinca minor is my favorite ground cover for sun. If you havent included vincas in your garden for a while, you should check out the expanded color palette that now includes blooms in every shade of the pink, rose, and lilac spectrum. Both Vinca major and Vinca minor, the herbaceous evergreen perennials, belong to the family ‘Apocynaceae.’ These are commonly known as ‘vinca’ or ‘periwinkle.’ The scrambling, trailing vines of these plants spread along the ground and form dense masses. This issue may also be compounded when the flowers have been planted in less than ideal conditions, as they do require well-draining soil. Cut several 3- to 6-inch stems from a healthy periwinkle plant. The plant produces flowers in spring and can be sown from the resulting seed. It will tolerate part shade but may become leggy if there is too much shade. The plant is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 9 through 11. Vinca minor, or common periwinkle, is easy to propagate from division, stem cuttings and seed. Trailing annual vincas like the 'Cora Cascade' series don't have a big footprint in the soil, but will spill onto pathways and peek through leggy shrubs to add a burst of color. Regular water is required for the first year. Both bloom early spring into late fall. Read our, 10 Best Flowering Plants That Deer Will Not Eat, The Best Spiller Plants for Container Gardens. Big periwinkle (Vinca major) is a rapidly-growing perennial vine that has escaped from garden settings and is regarded as an invasive plant that is spreading to native plant communities in California, according to the California Invasive Plant Council. In poorly draining soil, stem rot and leaf spots may occur. on May 31, 2017. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Herbaceous perennial, usually grown as an annual. Annual vinca doesn't require deadheading, or the removal of faded flowers, to continue blooming, making it a wonderfully low-maintenance annual flower for sun. After that time, vinca vines will need to be irrigated only during extremely hot, dry weather. Trailing vincas are a great option as a spiller out of a container or hanging basket. Flowers are purple, blue or white depending on the cultivar. Vinca or Periwinkle are grown from seeds. Vinca major has larger leaves and larger flowers than vinca minor. The foliage is dark green and leathery. Vinca minor vines stay short, sprawling out over the ground. Reply. Depending on your zone, you can plant vinca flower in February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November or even December. Annual vinca can be trailing or upright. The vinca plant tolerates heat well and continues to flower even in the hottest weather. The low-care nature of vinca plants helps them succeed in window boxes and other garden containers. Vinca provides some of the latest and earliest green in a northern garden, and the blue flowers … The stems of these plants root at their joints as they creep along the ground and spread rapidly to become a pretty flowering ground cover able to fill in a large area and keep weeds down. For cooler growing conditions, like greenhouse production, the "Cooler" series performs well. However, if your Vinca presents some of the symptoms, do the following: Stop overwatering, only water when the soil is dry. The blooming period for vinca flower, also called periwinkles or Catharanthus roseus officially, depends on what types of vinca are involved. It needs hot weather and does best in full sun. White-flowered forms are "Alba," "Albo-plena" with double flowers, and "Miss Jekyll." Vinca has rhizomes or underground stems that travel in the soil and help spread the plant. Native to tropical Madagascar, according to Floridata, summer-flowering vinca, also called annual vinca, has rosy-pink flowers and glossy, oval leaves. Vinca plants bear single blooms with five petals that frequently touch or overlap from early summer until the first frost. If you haven’t included vincas in your garden for a while, you should check out the expanded color palette that now includes blooms in every shade of the pink, rose, and lilac spectrum. Helpful. It has flowers and foliage that resemble those of impatiens, but rather than being a shade lover, annual vinca is a perfect choice for sunny locations. How to Sow and Plant. Once established, Vinca is drought tolerant. Some of the area is bare in between the plants, but some of the area I left in grass as the slope is steep (erosion), but used something like Round Up to kill the grass. Helpful. A 12-pack is great for adding bold, seasonal color to your landscape in flower beds, around mailboxes, and when creating borders. Different color combinations and heights occur in selected lines of summer-flowering vinca. Maintenance: Vinca can spread into areas it is not wanted so annual trimming of wandering shoots is recommended. They will grow up to 8″ in height and will spread about 2-4″ wide. Buy a six-pack of vinca plants as a filler for any blank sunny spot in the garden border where your perennials haven’t matured yet. in height. How to Root a Vinca Vine Fill a planting container with commercial potting soil. If your plants do fall victim to … Similarly, you may ask, how do you winterize vinca? It grows up to 12 inches high, with larger leaves and flowers, and while it also spreads, it makes a more mounding or undulating ground cover than V. minor. Evergreen perennial lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor), also called creeping myrtle, according to the University of Vermont, is a ground cover for shady areas in USDA zones 4 through 9. Plants set out too early in cold, wet soil will deliver a sickly performance; after all, these are hot weather annuals. These prolific, self seeders, will usually reseed themselves, if left unattended. It’s rare that such an infection happens in pots, because usually drainage is much better than in the ground. Periwinkle has shallow, spreading, fibrous roots that hold soil … "Cora" is a series bred to be resistant to Phytophthora root rot. Vincas demand well-draining soil. Add compost or grit to your heavy soil; alternatively, plant vincas in raised beds or containers with a porous, well-draining potting mix. University of Florida IFAS Extension: Catharanthus Roseus Periwinkle, Madagascar Periwinkle, California Invasive Plant Council: Vinca Major (Big Periwinkle). This is one of the most carefree annual flowers you can grow, with few serious disease or insect problems. Missouri Botanical Garden. helping vinca minor to spread faster. Vinca minor is hardy in zones 4-9, Vinca major 7-11. Annual vinca commonly grows 8 to 12 inches tall, but some varieties can reach a height of 18 inches. Many varieties feature a contrasting eye. Fertilizing in spring with an all purpose fertilizer will help keep Vinca lush. It grows 12 to 24 inches tall and wide, suitable for ground covers, hanging baskets, containers and mass plantings. Streamside, or riparian, areas are especially vulnerable. It spreads not by seeds from the spring-blooming blue flowers but vegetatively, with roots forming at stem nodes. If a plant suffers from rot, remove it from the planting bed, so the problem doesn't spread. Slugs and snails may also feast on the leaves.. This plant can be easily propagated by taking cuttings in early fall.