Plant your vinca minor when temperatures are around 24 to 38 C (75 to 100 F). 6 . I cant address the currency if the official list in Maryland (the state if my childhood), but these lists are often years out of date, if they exist at all. You should ensure that you dont plant your coleus under shades for too long, and it should be getting at least eight hours of sunlight a day, or else you will notice that your plant will start dying. Both look very similar but vinca major is cold-hardy and a bit larger than vinca minor. Good cover for bulbs. As periwinkle plants grow, they have a knack for laying down roots wherever their stems come in contact with soil. Ive grown it in two suburbs of DC and in neither location (or the gardens of my neighbors) has it grown vigorously. Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. This flower is associated with sunflowers, daisies, and zinnias as they all belong to the same category of plants, Asteraceae. Apart from purple, the plant comes in several other beautiful colors, like red and orange. Of course, from seed. USDA Zones: 4-9. Several types of coleuses can be planted both as annual and perennial plants. They are fast-growing and will spread equally wide and tall, generally 6 to 18 inches. Plants drying out is the most common problem associated with vinca ground cover plants. Vinca minor 'Ralph Shugert' (Lesser Periwinkle), Vinca minor 'Illumination' (Lesser Periwinkle), Vinca minor 'Bowles's Variety' (Lesser Periwinkle), Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' (Solomon's Seal), Native Plant Alternatives to Vinca minor (Lesser Periwinkle), Native Plant Alternatives to Vinca major (Big Periwinkle), Want Garden Inspiration? Vinca Sun Or Shade: Where Should You Keep It? The other species commonly found is Vinca major. Coleus is the second kind of plant that complements vinca nicely. Ajuga reptans or Bugleweed has been selected here by Arthur Use our interactive toolsto design your dream garden. See below Description. Periwinkle (Vinca minor) is an evergreen creeping plant through which it will be interesting to plant narcissus. 11 Reasons Why Plants Keep Dying In Same Spot, 7 Ways To Fix Hydraulic Quick Coupler Stuck, Why Are My Vinca Leaves Yellow? My two companion plants, that most everyone knows is astilbe (don't know its name) and daylily Mayaysian Monarch accompanied by one annual every year. These stand out because they have similar maintenance methods as the vinca, making it even easier to care for both without stressing too much. Vinca minor species is native to Europe and Asia. After planting this plant and seeing it just chill in one spot for 20+ years, then after that it took off and is what I call invasive. Fertilizing younger vincas give It a boost by helping it develop a brilliant green color and also helps it prepare for blooms. The dahlia is a famous plant native to both central parts of America and even Mexico. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Maybe it does somewhere. Foliage will mound up to 6" tall. GUEST RANTS Periwinkle plants grow best in a warm daytime temperature of at least 75F and a nighttime temperature above 60F. All thrive in moisture-retaining, humus-rich soil and tolerate dry conditions. Another plant that can be considered a vinca companion is the sweet potato vine. THE INDOOR GARDENER. Vinca minor is a very robust plant and it is also winterhart. Then what? This creeping plant can be invasive though, choking out native plants. 1. I planted mine in 4 hanging baskets and in a portion where its surrounded by asphalt, so it cannot escape. MINISTRY OF CONTROVERSY Vinca minor can be grown from seed, but it grows slowly. Water the potting soil prior to planting until the soil is evenly moist and the excess water flows from the drainage hole in the pot. Planted alone or alongside companion plants, Vinca is perfect for containers, hanging baskets, windowsills, or raised planters. SKU. So, if you stay in a place where the temperature is high enough, your coleus would last longer, but if you stay in colder regions, I would not advise you to get coleus plants. Hardiness zones 4-8 are the optimal regions for periwinkle growth. this plant can seriously get out of control an spread every where! In terms of temperatures, plants hardy to zones 4-8 can withstand a minimum temperature of 30 to 37 F (34 to 38 C) once they are established. Its very similar to Biokovo, which would also work, but St. . Without a proper drainage system, water will not escape, and as a result, the roots of your dahlia plant will be soaked in water. Vinca minor, also known as just vinca or periwinkle, is a fast growing, easy groundcover. Plant 12-18 in. Dahlia is a stunning perennial flower that you can have close to your vincas in your garden, which means that it would last for years with proper maintenance. long. We cannot currently ship this product to your zip code. Trailing stems with smooth, evergreen leaves (to 1.5" long) root at the nodes as they go along the ground and quickly spread to form an attractive ground cover. If thats the case, consider covering your coleus plant with a shade cloth. One of the best groundcovers for shade, displaying large, violet-blue, pinwheel-shaped flowers against glossy dark green leaves. Coleus is another excellent plant that can go well with the vinca plants. Video-blogging about hoop dancing on her channel Susans Hoop Dance Journey, which launched in 2023. Shes also on the Board of Greenbelt Access TV. Vinca minor (Lesser Periwinkle) is a vigorous, evergreen mat-forming perennial with glossy dark green leaves and large lavender blue flowers from mid-spring to early summer. The flowers are also attractive to butterflies. No doubt, vinca looks great. To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of our site. Companion Plants: Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra); Hosta . Dry soil and drought tolerant. But, in order to keep them from wilting and fading away during the cold winter months, vincas need special care. 2023 MONROVIA NURSERY COMPANY. I really apprecisted reading your article. Its dense tufts of almost-evergreen, broadly grassy leaves are often striped. Fast, vine-like growth; reaches 4 to 6 in. 3. The vascular plants of Indiana: A computer based checklist. When they do their job they prevent erosion and weeds. Vinca major and Vinca minor are evergreen plants that are at home in the woodland or shade garden. It would be a good idea to check the soil before watering it. Attractive to butterflies but ignored by deer! Due to its ability to spread around like vines, many people use these plants as a ground season. Trees and shrubs are the four seasons backbones of the landscape. apart (20 cm) for quick cover of smaller areas. Like vinca, the sweet potato vine also thrives in hot weather and is drought-tolerant. The foliage is offset by a prominent, whitish mid-vein and absolutely delightful violet-blue blooms (1/2-3/4 inch) in early spring . Good for use in firescaping. Thrives in full sun to part shade in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Indeed, the very fact that they grow so well can sometimes bea problem. An evergreen garden plant that covers ground well and is attractive all year, with blooms in late spring, is Geranium x cantabrigense St. Coleus is a sun-loving plant and requires at least six hours of sunlight to grow properly. tall, spreading 2 to 3 ft. wide. University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. It stays green year-round in many climates, produces pretty blue or white flowers, and is about as tough a plant as you'll hope to meet. Your coleus will last years if you set it somewhere where the temperature does not drop much. Indeed I finally found a spot where Periwinkle IS clearly a problem. 4 Possible Reasons, 13 Handy Tips To Keep Raccoons Out Of Corn, Black Edges On Tomato Leaves: Remedies and Cure, How To Get Rid of Stinging Nettles Permanently? This summer garden idea combines easy-to-grow annuals and Add splashes of color and fragrance to your path! RANT REVIEWS Plant Care and Tips. This plant grows with leaves of different colors that can spread around your garden fast. What plants do you recommend be used in shade instead of Vinca minor? No one regularly walks on other groundcovers besides grass anyway, so why should we be concerned about maintaining a monotonous expanse of uniform, ground-hugging plants? WHITE HOUSE GARDENS Periwinkle is a perennial in Zones 4-9, where it usually survives the winter outdoors. Youll often see periwinkle in disturbed areas, along roads, and in forests. Water deeply and keep the soil moist for a couple of months to give the roots time to develop; after that, only water when the soil is dry to 1 inch. Invasive Ground Covers and the Case for Allowing Periwinkle. Absolutely! I choose not to use it in my landscape as it would crowd out and overwhelm my other shade perennials, plus my yard borders woodlands. Provide some shade in hot southern areas. They are deer-resistant and rabbit-proof flowers, and few insects eat them, so there is not much pest control to worry about. Plant your vinca in a 6- to 8-inch diameter pot that has a minimum of one drainage hole. Lets get started without any further ado! Like vinca, dahlia also needs well-drained soil. Periwinkle plants don't have severe pest problems, but they can fall prey to aphids, scale, or spider mites, which can be controlled with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Other names: Vinca minor 'Bowles' Blue', Vinca minor 'Bowles' Variety', Vinca minor 'Bowles's Variety' , Vinca minor 'Bowles's Blue' . In many cases, the symptoms from ingesting this plant will be restricted to the gastrointestinal symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain accompanied by a slightly lowered blood pressure. In my neighborhood the mistaken (I contend) banning Periwinkle creates a special problem. Plants that are invasive only along streams or in regions with mild winters can get banned from places where theyre no threat at all. Don't despair if the area under your willow tree looks like it needs something to make it look more interesting. It's appealing to gardeners and homeowners needing to cover areas of the yard as an alternative to grass. Vinca minor is an evergreen ground cover that spreads by rooted stems. Thus you can leave the dwarf periwinkle in the garden, even in winter. The periwinkle plant is exceptional as an erosion control specimen. Tubular, lavender blue, phlox-like flowers (to 1 inch across) appear in the . DEFIANTLY UNCATEGORICAL It is also useful for providing ground cover and is known for its creeping habit. I used tiny 1-inch plants, and kept them watered for the first summer we were here. Excellent for suppressing weeds, this vigorous periwinkle is one of the most popular and widely used groundcovers. Filtered sun, Full shade, Partial shade. This is the hardier and smaller plant of the two main speciesminor in Latin means smaller. I think it survives along the edge of the garden because of runoff from the road. You know its an old homestead when you poke around a bit and find bits of old foundation, cast iron stove parts, or other castaways of domestic life. All that is required of you is that the plant receives appropriate maintenance. To receive new GardenRant articles by email. I needed a plant that would not only be a vigorous grower, but on which had deep roots to help keep the hillside from washing away in a downpour. Cut back the vinca minor to 1/3 its size in the spring. Susan co-founded GardenRant and also wrote for national gardening magazines and independent garden centers before retiring in 2014. No surprise that successful ground covers can, in the wrong place, do their job too TOO well. Most often the problem is seeding, which is not considered by many comments in this article. The colorful petals may be pretty to look at, but they don't offer much in the way of nutrition. Now, these are forests that are practically cleared of understory plants due to deer, so I see that its questionable that Vinca is invasive, but Vinca didnt get there by climbing over a sidewalk and traveling two miles. Before using it, try some alternatives to vinca vine. Evergreen in most climates. Bobcat 463 vs Bobcat S70 Which One Is Better? Creates a mat 6 in. Water it only when the top inch of potting soil is dry. . Users searching vinca companion plants will probably have many other questions related to it. What is Vinca? Prefers moist, humusy soils in part shade. Cutting the plants back also encourages new growth, which is much brighter and shinier than the old leaves and offers a nice spot of color in dark areas. If this is a concern, make it a point each year to keep their runners in check. Mature Size. Sowing Seed Indoors: Sow vinca indoors 12-15 weeks before the last frost. The hardy, evergreen vinca is loved for its glossy, leathery leaves that maintain their shape all year long. The plant tolerates high heat and close to full shade, but prefers full or partial sun, although its leaves can tend to yellow in full sun. The problem with using periwinkle in your garden is that it can grow too fast and too easily. The flowers of the vinca plants would blossom every spring and can be able to last you for an entire season. Since the vines of these plants spread quickly, you might want to trim them every once in a while, so knowing the best cutting technique would be helpful. Ive been on a mission to get rid of it for 10+ years. Tho this plant may NOT. On the other hand, a friend who lives in a more low-lying part of the area has it coming up everywhere the water table is high and it gets a lot more moisture. They are very low maintenance plants and will bring bright, warm colors to your garden. If it feels moist, refrain from watering it. An amazing fact about the coleus is that it has no flowers, but its unique leaves still come in various colors. Accept Im not going to walk on Hellebores or many of the others mentioned as alternatives. Ola. It inhabits open to shady sites including forests and often escapes from old homesites., TheState of Indiana says: Once established, Vinca minor forms a densecarpet to the exclusion ofother plants. While looking for good vinca companion plants, be careful not to settle for the wrong plants as they can become invasive around your vinca plant, suffocating it to death. The vinca group of plants provides a wide variety of options to suit a range of garden needs across the U.S. Vinca minor is a particularly popular, low-growing vine that serves as a ground cover. Want a dramatic front yard? Your climate might be too cold for this plant: Your climate may be too cold for this plant. So, combining a unique coleus plant with your vinca plant would give your garden a pleasing look. Photo: Julie Boudreau. Really, just do some research. For very severe frosts it is however advisable to cover the plant with brushwood or garden fleece. Anemone canadensis, Aquilegia canadense, Asarum canadense, Hexastylis shuttleworthii (evergreen), Aruncus aethusifolius, Eurybia divaricata, Chrysogonum virginianum, Dicentra eximia, native ferns, including evergreen ones like Dryopteris marginalis and Polystichum acrostichiodes), Geranium maculatum, Heuchera americana (Dales Strain) and H. villosa, Iris cristata, Lobelia siphilitica, Maianthemum canadense, Meehenia cordata, Mitchella repens, Pachysandra procumbens, Packera aurea, Phlox divaricata and P. stolonifera, Salvia lyrata, Sanguinaria canadensis (while young plants are ephemeral, established plants have foliage that persist until frost), Sedgesthere are native sedges for sun, shade, sand, clay, wet, dry, and some are even evergreen, Sedum ternatum, Sisyrichium angustifolium, S. atlanticum, Stylophorum diphyllum, Tiarella cordifolia, Viola sororia and numerous other native violets which are the only host plants for the Great Spangled Fritillary.
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companion plants for vinca minor