Periwinkle

Glossy leaves, stellar blue flowers, quick coverage -- periwinkle is an ideal coverage for shade. Its only flaw is that it's so popular it's become underappreciated.

Prepare the soil well prior to planting and add humus to retain moisture. Keep the plants cut back to encourage bushy growth, and to keep them within bounds. Periwinkle can become invasive.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun,Shade

Zones:

4-9

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

4-18 inches tall, depending on variety

Plant Width:

Indefinitely wide

Flower Color:

White, purple, blue, lavender flowers, depending on variety; variegated leaves, depending on variety

Bloom Time:

Blooms mid-spring to fall

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Slopes,Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Fall Color,Winter Interest,Attracts Birds,Tolerates Wet Soil,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Purple vinca

(Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea') bears creeping stems and dark purple flowers on and off from spring to fall. Zones 4-9.
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Vinca

(Vinca minor) offers pretty blue blooms periodically from spring to frost. Zones 4-9.
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Garden Plans

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Hosta-Filled Shade Garden
Corner of Shrubs
Easy Sidewalk Garden Plan
Flowery Deck Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Lungwort

The silver-spotted hairy leaves of lungwort make an interesting contrast with dark evergreen periwinkle in shaded places.

Lilyturf

Variegated lilyturf has upright clumps of strappy green leaves edged with cream which show off well among the dark foliage of creeping myrtle in light shade.

Hakone grass

Clumps of striped green-and-cream Japanese forestgrass leaves show up well among periwinkle. They enjoy similar conditions.

Propagation

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Division