It seems like every garden has a tricky dark corner where no grass will grow and perennials fizzle out.
They’re favorites in shade perennial gardens as well as rock gardens.
The tough-as-nails plant can will sprawl and look increasingly lush year after year without needing much care.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Periwinkle prefers slightly acidic soil that drains well.
If the soil is heavy or needs other amendments, add them before planting.
Space them 8 inches apart in small areas or 12 to 18 inches apart in large areas.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Periwinkle Care Tips
Periwinkle is an adaptable, low-maintenance plant.
These care guidelines will keep it looking its best.
They’ll also grow in poor soil that dries out a bit, but not as vigorously.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Periwinkle does best with about an inch of water per week through rainfall or irrigation.
The warmer, the better.
Periwinkle plants tolerate humid and wet climates, but they are more susceptible to diseases in humid areas.
Credit: David McDonald
For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.
This makes them a great option forpreventing weeds from growingbetween their dense mats of foliage.
However, it also means these plants can spread indefinitely.
Credit: Doug Hetherington
When grown in wet areas, they may die back due to fungal diseases.
How to Propagate Periwinkle
Periwinkle plants areeasily propagated using stem cuttings.
This is the hardier and smaller plant of the two main speciesminor in Latin means smaller.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
The other species commonly found isVinca major.
Zones 4-9
Vinca
Vinca minoroffers pretty blue blooms periodically from spring to frost.
Zones 4-9
Periwinkle Companion Plants
Other shade-loving plants make ideal companions for periwinkle.
Credit: Matthew Benson
Look for plants with habits and colors that complement periwinkle’s glossy foliage and blue flowers.
Provide high-humus soil that retains moisture.
Although lungwort tolerates dry conditions, be alert for mildew.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Its dense tufts of almost-evergreen, broadly grassy leaves are often striped.
Stiff stems bear tight spikes of tiny blue or white bells, similar to those of grape hyacinth.
It thrives when protected from drying winds in rich, well-drained soil that retains moisture.
Its mounding clumps of arching, grassy leaves gradually increase in size, never becoming invasive.
Variegated cultivars are particularly attractive.
All thrive in moisture-retaining, humus-rich soil and tolerate dry conditions.
Garden Plans for Periwinkle
Need some ideas for incorporating periwinkle into your garden?
These plans show exactly how to combine it with other plants for a shady oasis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Periwinkle is easy to grow in containers if the pot has drainage holes.
Water it only when the top inch of potting soil is dry.
Periwinkle is a perennial in Zones 4-9, where it usually survives the winter outdoors.
It is grown as an annual in colder areas and must be brought inside to survive.
There are many vigorous groundcovers to choose from, regardless of your light conditions.
