Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
[VIN-kah MY-nor]

Evergreen Perennial Vine-like shrub in the Apocynaceae Family
 
Vinca minor is grown primarily as a groundcover in temperate gardens. Its dense foliage stays green year-round, and has nice periwinkle-colored flowers during the spring and summer. There are numerous cultivars, including plants with variegated foliage (for example Argenteovariegata) and white, purple (Atropurpurea) and violet (La Grave) flower colors. It is tolerant of sun, but prefers partial shade and can turn yellowish when exposed to the hottest summer sun. It's durable -- you can walk on it. Vinca are somewhat invasive -- spreading into adjacent lawns or garden areas and beyond -- and can be challenging to eradicate.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 6 inches tall. 6 - 18 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance - Medium
Zones 4a - 8b
Tags Deer-resistant,Deer Resistant
Bloom Period Spring, can rebloom a bit in Summer
Flower Color Periwinkle blue
Foliage Color Dark Green
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Daffodils are a well-suited partner: they bloom at similar times, and do not require frequent division.

Photos of This with...

Yarrow, Snapshot Merlot Mix Snapdragon, Goat's Beard, Grey Birch, Whitespire Gray Birch, Eastern Redbud, Columbus Strain Eastern Redbud, Ruby Falls Eastern Redbud, Solanna Golden Sphere Tickseed, Golden Glory Cornelian Cherry Dogwood, Jeanne d'Arc Spring Crocus, Diamond Frost Spurge, Forsythia, Aureola Japanese Forest Grass, Lenten Rose, Grape Galaxy Lenten Rose, Hellebore, Leapfrog Foamy Bells, Autumn Frost Hosta, Komodo Dragon Hosta, Sum and Substance Hosta, Unique Panicle Hydrangea, Blue Mohawk Rush, Juniper, Ligularia Bottle Rocket, The Rocket Leopard Plant, Variegated Lily Turf, Gallery Red Lupine, Aurea Creeping Jenny, Star Magnolia, Apple/Crabapple, Indian Summer Flowering Crabapple, Walter's Siberian Crabapple, Vintage White Stock, Valerie Finnis Grape Hyacinth, Blue Magic Grape Hyacinth, Daffodil, Angel's Flute Daffodil, Polar Ice Small-cupped Daffodil, SunGlow Yellow Bicolor Nemesia, Green Carpet Japanese Pachysandra, Shenandoah Switch Grass, Boston Ivy, Boldly Burgundy Geranium, Supertunia Vista Silverberry, Diablo Ninebark, Golden Flare Azalea, Alpine Currant, Blue Hill Wood Sage, Siberian Squill, Cup Plant, ColorBlaze Dipt in Wine Coleus, Colorblaze Marooned Coleus, Catalina Pink Wishbone Flower, Tojen Toad Lily, Negrita Triumph Tulip, Orange Princess Tulip, Popsicles Purple Face Horned Violet, Spring Matrix Lavender Pansy,
 
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search & Flickr.
 


Pricing and Availability History

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!