Vinca minor ('La Grave') 'BOWLES' VARIETY' periwinkle
size/type
low or groundcovering,low or groundcovering
usual height
0,2-0,2m
leaves
evergreen broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
April-June
location
full sun to shade
soil type
any (acidic to alkaline)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist but well-drained
USDA zone (lowest)
4 (down to -34°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Description of the plant:
Periwinkle is a European native plant growing wildly in the woods of Central Europe to Caucasus. It is a prostrate, evergreen groundcover offering a long flowering period.Pinwheel-shaped flowers of Bowles' Variety variety (La Grave) are 3cm wide, have 5 divided petals of blue-violet colour with prevailing blue shade. It flowers from mid spring continuously until midsummer while May and June flowering is supposedly most abundant.
Evergreen leaves are ovate, deep green, and glossy. It makes long shoots which are best trimmed to achieve a dense and compact mat with plentiful of flowers. Periwinkle is ideal in areas where it can be left grown on its own beneath taller trees or shrubs, not disturbing smaller and dwarf plants. If desired in a bed along with other plants keep it under control by hard pruning.
It will grow in almost any soil type apart from too dry. It flowers best in full sun if it is not left too dry. Filtered sun or partial shade around noon is ideal. Fully hardy to -34°C (USDA zone 4).
Last update 25-04-2008.
