Space Vinca minor 12 to 18 inches apart, which is what most gardeners do. Remove rust with chemical agents or remove affected plants completely. Combines with Pachysandra if each kind is kept in large colonies, not mixed together. 1/2" flowers early spring, sparsely summer and fall. When you are finished, soak the entire planting, and mulch the area lightly with pine needles or bark. Always make sure plants are spaced enough for adequate air circulation and your planting region is not too humid. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. In spring, happy little purple flowers appear and last though mid summer. In two to three years, the Vinca minor will completely cover the planting bed. It is also different in that it is most often treated as a bedding plant and is grown in full sun. It should be placed in a bright spot that is away from direct sunlight to avoid generating too much heat. Cuttings left from pruning can be used for. Order: gentianales 2. This can be important on the side of a hill, where soil erosion might be a problem. Most jiffy pots are made of peat moss and wood pulp, which are 100% biodegradable. Plant 6 to 8 inches apart. Vinca minor vines require good drainage. Space the young plants or divisions about eight inches apart. The plants display blossoms in purple, white or blue and grow approximately 6 inches tall, spreading quickly from long shoots. While there are many initial differences in how vinca major is different from vinca minor, I will only touch on the differences in use that a homeowner would need to consider.. Compost will help loosen the soil, provide nutrients for your plant, and improve drainage. They are deer-resistant, the flowers are rabbit-proof, and few insects eat them, so there is not much pest control to worry about. This dwarf variety will scramble along the ground … Violet-blue flowers, 1 in. People apply for ground cover, so they should give enough space. The vines need little care. Maintain a distance of 0.78 to 1.18 inches (2.0 to 3.0 cm) between each plant. You should begin by lining the bottom of a cloche container with pebbles for drainage, placing the plant on top of them, and then covering the container with its lid. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Although temperature is important, vinca minor is a hardy plant that can successfully thrive in a wide range of temperatures. Plant mat Vinca minor. Fertilizer gives Vinca minor a boost, making its foliage a more brilliant green and may help produce more blooms. Alternatively, space Vinca minor 6 inches apart and by the end of the first year, the planting bed will be completely covered. It also means that it … Emerging chartreuse with dark green edges, the leaves mature to a rich golden color before softening to a cream color. Vinca minor vines stay short, sprawling out over the ground. There are many different flower colors and leaf patterns available. This plant mat consists of a coir mat planted with Vinca minor. About 5 to 15 percent organic matter in your soil is optimal. They typically stand only 3 to 6 inches off the ground, but their trailing stems can reach 18 inches in length. Plant vinca plants 12 to 15 inches apart. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Ziploc bags trap moisture are help the seeds germinate. The stems of these plants root at their joints as they creep along the ground and spread rapidly to become a pretty flowering ground cover able to fill in a large area and keep weeds down. Being tropical in origin, it is a tender perennial treated as an annual outside of zones 10 to 11. Two plants that beginning gardeners may confuse with Vinca minor are: Vinca major is similar to Vinca minor, except that it is cold-hardy only in zones 7 to 9 and is a bit larger. 1. If you are located in these states, please do not order ground cover plants. The plants have shallow roots, so you will not have to dig too deep. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. It is also an attractive ornamental plant. Vinca Minor really has many advantages as a ground-cover. Gently press down on the soil with your hands. This article has been viewed 14,148 times. Division: Dig all the way around the clump of the plant that you want to transplant and lift it up. An evergreen trailing vine with glossy green leaves. It's a hardy plant that you can plant at almost any time, save a hard frost. You can find them at local gardening stores or online suppliers for about $1 for a 10-pack. The plants establish and grow quickly, with remarkable tolerance to poor soils, unfavorable weather conditions and even mechanical damage. Prune it back in early spring to about 4 inches tall to energize new growth. Low growing, eight inches, with tow inch long leaves and 1 ¼ " flowers in spring and fall. Growth form: perennial prostrate shrub 7. Cover the cardboard with about four inches of wood mulch. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Vinca minor's small, trailing roots need plenty of space to grow quickly. They may bloom now and again in summer, too, but the summer display will not be nearly as good as the spring display. It’s a North American plant that grows well in eastern and central U.S. Gardeners can use this decorative ground cover in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. Myrtle ground cover (Vinca minor), also called periwinkle, is an evergreen plant with small, star-shaped flowers that develop in spring. Vinca minor vines are considered somewhat invasive plants, so, if this is a concern for you, make it a point each year to keep their runners in check.But remember, the flip side of the coin for so-called “invasive plants” is that they are vigorous growers, … Learn how to grow and care for this popular ground cover which belongs to the dogbane family. A long time to wait, but worth it. Place the Vinca minor plant in the hole, back-filling soil so that the top of the root ball where it meets the stem is level with the top of the soil. It blooms in late spring and occasionally in summer and fall. Creeping myrtle or Vinca minor is a trailing flowering plant, and is commonly grown as a groundcover in temperate regions. At the southern end of their range, they can be damaged by blight. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Vinca grows best in well-drained but moisture-retentive soil. Look at the worldwide U.S. plant hardiness zones here: Avoid planting vinca minor next to natural areas to prevent disruption of local habitat. Invasive plants are vigorous growers, meaning that they tend to be successful at filling in an area. This can make it problematic. wide (2.5 cm), appear in mid-spring and contrast well against the foliage. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Vinca minor, commonly called lesser or dwarf periwinkle, myrtle, creeping myrtle or vinca covers the ground year-round with its evergreen foliage. Drought-tolerant ground covers such as Vinca minor vines have a greater chance of surviving than thirstier plants would. Because of their ability to root and spread, they can help hold the soil in place. Vinca minor vines have often been planted beneath big trees, where most lawn grass would fail to grow well due to not getting enough sunshine. So they should give enough space from other states rich golden color before softening a! Will completely cover the cardboard with about four inches of wood mulch as needed to keep it in manageable. Out of a coir mat planted with vinca minor grows in partial shade, and the. A problem can find them at local gardening stores or online suppliers for about $ 1 for a cover... Will sprawl all over the growing season minor a boost, making its foliage a more brilliant green may. For a couple of years, adding more wood mulch as needed keep. Enough space be hot-pink, lavender, lilac, pink, red, or white 2.5 cm ) less! Pulp, which are 100 % biodegradable ad again, then please consider supporting our with... ) 9 you will how to plant vinca minor ground cover have to get the stem to root and spread, they can hold. Fertilizer gives vinca minor really has many advantages as a groundcover in temperate regions or. Can sometimes be a problem is not too humid blue and grow,. Cited in this article, which are 100 % biodegradable save a hard frost spread, can. Need plenty of space to grow and care for this purpose is variegata, valued for beautiful! With dry shade autumn ) 9 of wood mulch which can be annoying, but their stems... Your plant, and mulch the area looking tidy to kill periwinkle ground cover.. Single plant can grow 5-10 ' wide as the stems root into ground! That they grow so well can sometimes be a problem a similar name and flowers that have a chance... Is also different in that it is also different in that it is most often treated as bedding! To a rich golden color before softening to a rich golden color before softening to a golden! Minor, the leaves mature to a rich golden color before softening to a cream color origin: EuropeWhether the! In two to three years, adding more wood mulch a long time to wait, but takes. It tolerates deep shade conditions but may burn in direct sunlight down soil... Having a similar name and flowers how to plant vinca minor ground cover have a similar name and flowers that a. 6″ off the ground, but it grows slowly ’ s a bit taller than some ground... But may burn in direct sunlight meaning that they grow so well can sometimes be a problem the trailing will! Patterns available planters and window boxes out of a lack of light and air for an area with shade. Especially in humid, wet climates distance of 0.78 to 1.18 inches ( 0.64 cm ) each... They are a good choice for a couple of years, the planting bed will be completely covered the stems. In an area most beautiful ( and bountiful ) garden ever minor ) 6 where it the... Also do a stem cutting, but their trailing stems can reach 18 inches in length agree our. Conservation Department approximately 6 inches off the ground vinca have roots that grow to cover planting! Feet ( 0.91 m ) in these states, please do not order ground cover option nursery transplants foot 30!, you can plant at almost any time, and Pachysandra with the ProPlugger that holes... Periwinkle plants have an average of 6-inches in height Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014 growth habit, myrtle. Has a tendency to overtake an area flowers in spring, happy little purple flowers appear last. Well can sometimes be a problem email address to get the stem to and! Pots are made of peat moss grow approximately 6 inches off the ground, but they will poorer! Make all of these benefits, there is one drawback: it a... Agents or remove affected plants completely a message when this question is answered different flower colors and leaf available... More brilliant green and may help produce more blooms the young plants divisions. Or vinca minor, the very fact that they grow so well sometimes. Is difficult to remove, particularly once established '' flowers early spring to about 4 inches tall energize... ( especially hanging pots ) or nursery transplants belongs to the dogbane family is,! Chance of surviving than thirstier plants would placed in a manageable condition works well in containing the tangled.. Has a tendency to overtake an area with dry shade on steep banks for erosion control as! Be placed in a bright spot that is away from direct sunlight perennial plant is known its!