Vinca minor
Overview
Vinca minor, commonly known as lesser periwinkle or dwarf periwinkle, is one of the most reliable and attractive evergreen groundcover plants available to British gardeners. This hardy perennial produces a carpet of glossy green foliage topped with charming blue flowers, solving ground coverage problems whilst adding year-round beauty to challenging garden areas.
Key Features
-
Flower colour: Classic violet-blue, five-petaled blooms with a distinctive flat face
-
Flowering period: Main flush from April to June, with sporadic blooms continuing through summer
-
Foliage: Small, glossy, oval leaves in rich dark green that remain attractive throughout winter
-
Growth habit: Low, mat-forming groundcover typically reaching 10-20cm in height
-
Spread: Individual plants can spread 10-50cm, gradually forming extensive colonies
Growing Conditions
Soil requirements: Exceptionally adaptable to most soil types, from heavy clay to light sandy soils. Tolerates both acidic and alkaline conditions (pH 6.0-8.0). Prefers moist but well-draining soil enriched with organic matter, though will cope with poor soils once established.
Light preferences: Thrives in partial to full shade, making it invaluable for woodland conditions and north-facing gardens. Will tolerate morning sun but performs poorly in hot, exposed positions.
Hardiness: Completely hardy throughout the UK (RHS H5), surviving temperatures down to -20°C without any winter protection.
Planting and Care
Planting: Plant from spring through early autumn, with spring planting giving the best establishment. Space plants 25-30cm apart for relatively quick coverage, or up to 45cm apart if you're prepared to wait longer for full coverage. Improve heavy soils with compost or grit for drainage.
Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system. Once settled, the plant is remarkably drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplementary watering except during severe drought.
Maintenance: One of the lowest-maintenance perennials available. Trim back any untidy growth in early spring before flowering begins. Remove any brown or damaged leaves in winter. No regular fertilising required, though an annual top-dressing of compost will encourage more vigorous growth.
Propagation: Spreads naturally by trailing stems that root where they touch the soil. Can easily be divided in spring or autumn, or take tip cuttings in summer.
Garden Uses
-
Groundcover: Outstanding for large areas under trees where grass won't grow
-
Problem solving: Ideal for steep slopes, dry shade, and areas with root competition from trees
-
Naturalising: Perfect for woodland gardens and wild areas
-
Erosion control: Excellent for stabilising banks and slopes
-
Edging: Creates neat, low borders along paths and bed edges
-
Container planting: Works well in large containers and hanging baskets
Design Applications
Formal gardens: Use as neat edging or structured groundcover in shaded borders Cottage gardens: Allow to naturalise amongst spring bulbs and woodland plants Modern gardens: Provides clean, architectural groundcover with seasonal interest Wildlife gardens: Supports beneficial insects whilst providing year-round habitat
Companion Planting
Creates beautiful combinations with:
-
Spring bulbs (snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils) which emerge through the foliage
-
Shade-loving perennials like pulmonaria, brunnera, and epimedium
-
Ferns and hostas for textural contrast
-
Flowering shrubs such as rhododendrons and camellias
-
Native woodland plants including wood anemones and primroses
Wildlife and Environmental Benefits
-
Flowers provide early nectar for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
-
Dense foliage offers shelter and nesting sites for small wildlife
-
Evergreen nature provides year-round habitat
-
Excellent for preventing soil erosion on slopes
-
Helps suppress weeds naturally once established
Varieties and Alternatives
-
'Atropurpurea': Deep purple-blue flowers
-
'Alba': Pure white flowers for lighter effects
-
'Aureovariegata': Gold-variegated foliage
-
'La Grave': Larger, more abundant blue flowers
Potential Considerations
-
Can be vigorous and may spread beyond intended areas if not managed
-
All parts of the plant are toxic if consumed by humans or pets
-
May take 2-3 seasons to achieve full ground coverage
-
Can occasionally self-seed in very favourable conditions
Seasonal Interest
Spring: Fresh new growth emerges with abundant blue flowers
Summer: Continued sporadic flowering with lush green foliage
Autumn: Foliage remains attractive as other plants die back
Winter: Provides evergreen structure when most perennials have disappeared
Why Choose Vinca minor?
Lesser periwinkle offers the perfect solution for gardeners struggling with shady, difficult areas where other plants fail to thrive. It combines reliability with beauty, requiring virtually no maintenance once established whilst providing year-round interest. The cheerful blue flowers brighten up dark corners in spring, whilst the evergreen foliage ensures the garden looks furnished throughout winter.
Ideal for: Low-maintenance gardens, problem areas, wildlife-friendly spaces, and anyone seeking dependable groundcover that actually enhances the garden's appearance rather than merely filling space.
Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.
Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.
Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.
Planting and Conditions
Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.
Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.
One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.
Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.
Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.
Aftercare and Pruning
Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.
Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.
Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.
All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.
Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.
To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.
Potential Issues
Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.
This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.
To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same.
No posts found
| Size | Availability | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
In stock
|
£7.99 |