Vinca minor

Vinca minor Detail (25/03/2011 London)

Position: Full sun to full shade

Soil: Moist, well drained

Flowering period: Mid spring to summer

Eventual Height: 20cm

Eventual Spread: 1.5m

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Apocynaceae

Vinca minor is an evergreen shrub with a prostrate, mat forming habit. Its dark green leaves are elliptic to ovate with entire margins, up to 40cm long and 25cm. Its green stems are slender and trailing and root at intervals, aiding its spread. Its blue/ violet flowers are solitary and trumpet-shaped.

Vinca minor also known as Lesser periwinkle or Dwarf periwinkle was introduced from continental Europe. In America it is known as Myrtle or Creeping myrtle where it is considered an invasive species. In traditional medicine the plant has been used to increase blood flow to treat cardiac disorders.

The etymological root of the binomial name Vinca is derived from the old Latin vincio meaning ‘to bind’, in reference to the plants spiraling runners. Minor is from the Latin meaning ‘smaller’, in reference to its low habit.

Vinca minor Detail (25/03/2011 London)

The landscape architect may find Vinca minor useful as an effective free-flowering ground cover plant, which is suitable for shade locations.

Vinca minor is not advised for ecological planting as it will form a monotypic evergreen ground cover that displaces and excludes most other plants and will choke out native plants that will cater to native fauna.

Vinca minor prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Vinca minor requires no care, if its growth needs to be curtailed or contained it should be cut back in spring.