Groundcover
Lesser periwinkle
Vinca minor
A low evergreen groundcover with trailing stems and blue-violet spring flowers. It covers shaded soil under shrubs and trees effectively but can spread beyond its intended area.
- Size
- 0.1–0.5 m high · 1–1.5 m wide
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade / Full shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Winter
- Very hardy
- Seasonal form
- Evergreen
- Maintenance
- Low
Before planting
- Use it where a spreading carpet is wanted, because rooted stems can be difficult to contain later.
- Leave space between it and delicate low plants that could be overwhelmed.
Why choose it
- Keeps a low cover of glossy foliage through winter.
- Adds spring flowers and suppresses bare soil in shade beneath established woody plants.
Care
- Water regularly until the stems establish across the soil.
- Trim wandering shoots at the boundary before they root outside the intended area.
- Thin congested or tired growth when necessary to refresh the cover.