How to Grow Vinca Minor Periwinkle

Vinca is such a lovely old fashioned evergreen ground cover. I have it in my garden for more than 10 years already and it colonizes new territories with no problem, thanks to its gentle nature. It can run a mile if you let it, beware!

[@emooreme]

This is a good video. It made me rethink where I want to plant it!

[@neobatman3193]

A great summary of what Vinca can do ! It likes to creep through crevices. Very easy to sneak into the neighbour's garden without us noticing and then "march" everywhere. We'll be blamed.😢

[@MrChuckyducky1]

I learned so much in this video. Thank you so very much, Olga.

[@ericab936]

Thank u so much. Beautiful garden

[@MichaelB1488]

Periwinkle once covered the graves of our ancestors and crowned young maiden in the springtime.

[@graceinthegarden9151]

It does look lovely in its simplicity. Being an evergreen makes it a win. I don't like bare ground in flower beds either. Thank you for sharing.

[@OlgaCarmody]

Cool, yes, evergreen ground cover is super good.

[@3apa3a4eva]

Thanks, Olga! Vinca is beautiful, but oh so invasive.... And extremely hardy!

[@OlgaCarmody]

Yes, is there a perfect plant? If vinca wouldn't be invasive, it will be everywhere in our gardens, but alas... it runs.

[@3apa3a4eva]

@@OlgaCarmody Amen.

[@emptynestgardens9057]

I love mine too 💜 I have it in front of our shady garden shed growing among Hosta & Astilbe. I've started introducing it into other areas by taking cuttings and just sticking it right into ground late last Fall. They over wintered in our Zone5 and to my surprise are now growing new shoots.

[@OlgaCarmody]

Yes, very easy to grow, right? I am very happy with my humble vinca!

[@galinaganeev8802]

You read my mind! 😊 I just wanted to ask you about the ground covers that you have 💚 I’m so happy I found Periwinkle in my local lowe’s this morning. I have a big area under the trees. There is very sandy soil so I probably need to add quite a bit compost to the soil since nothing grows in this area except moss. Thank you Olga! I’m so happy that I found your channel 💚

[@OlgaCarmody]

Great! Glad that this video helped you! Yes, plant Periwinkle, it will have a quicker start in enriched soil, but, to be honest with you, even in poor soil, vinca finds its way around.

[@BrandywineGarden]

Thank you, Olga! I love your garden ideas! So unique! I live in 6b PA and you’ve sold me on trying out vinca as a groundcover! It’s evergreen, adaptable in various light/water conditions, and it blooms. Check, check, check!

[@OlgaCarmody]

Plus it runs a mile, haha!

[@asheland_numismatics]

I like the purple flowers. 🤗

[@prettylagoon]

I live Houston. Can I plant it around rose bushes? Thank you

[@Jenoveryonder]

Your voice is awesome! It’s like story time….

[@flowerpixel]

Perfect video! So much information thank you

[@OlgaCarmody]

Glad it was helpful!

[@graceb2009]

Hi Dear Olga...everything Is wonderful...

[@OlgaCarmody]

Hello😊

[@boldpicturesgardeners]

I'm in love with vinca periwinkle, I'm gona plant mine on the ground

[@elmaelmar2761]

I think it’s beautiful!!!

[@OlgaCarmody]

I think too, very reliable and beautiful!

[@SusanMiddleton1]

Weed to me! When I moved to my current house Vinca Minor had taken over the full sun front garden against the house and climbed up every tree and shrub it could find. It took me a week to get it out. In a sunny garden, who would not want beautiful shrubs and perennials for all to see?

[@OlgaCarmody]

Agree. Vinca Minor can take over and can be an enemy number 1. For me it is a controlled collaborator in the garden.

[@SusanMiddleton1]

@@OlgaCarmody You need to be a vigilant gardener as you and I are. Someone planted a landscape for the previous owner of my house and then no one did any maintenance at all. I’m am enjoying your videos, Olga. I’m near Niagara Falls, Canadian side USDA zone 5b so your ideas mostly work for me.

[@dmarcus1260]

I'm considering planting Vinca Major later this spring as a vine for privacy on my balcony. Hopefully I will be able to train it to climb up a trellis. I realize it prefers to grow as a ground cover but the plants that I seen in my neighborhood have reached about 3 feet tall without being trained to climb as a vine.

[@OlgaCarmody]

Your neighbors probably have Vinca Major and it is a mighty grower. Not sure if it can be grown as a climber, maybe a short one, it definitely would need help climbing.

[@ROlson-dx2jc]

Hi Olga I have a variegated vinca major growing with vinca minor do they grow well together? Should I keep on top of vinca major more so it doesn't overtake everything? It's filling in a bare area under a pine tree and is the only thing we have planted in this space that has grown successfully.

[@victoriao1828]

Thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏

[@ravenfeathesDVM]

Olga, this will probably sound dumb but how do I find out if my soil is acidic or alkaline? It has really done well in the shady areas so that could be the problem. I’d love to buy more flats and plant more (to replace my lawn areas) but it’s very sunny and hot in summer here and it rains very much in the winter months. It certainly grows well under my trees though. Thank you for all your advice. I appreciate it it so much! 💕

[@OlgaCarmody]

How to find out the acidity or alkalinity of soil? The best thing you can do is to do a soil test. In our state of CT it costs $12. You go to your local extension service (easy to find online) and see where you can send your soil test. It is not difficult, and they will tell you other very important properties of your soil. So, you know how you can grow things successfully. This is probably one best thing every gardener can do. Best of luck!

[@ravenfeathesDVM]

@@OlgaCarmody Once again, thank you so much for your great advice. You are so kind.

[@katieshelton8117]

Would it do ok in dry sun?

[@OlgaCarmody]

My vinca in zone 6/7 will tolerate sun well, not sure about warmer zones…

[@johnfritz3792]

Can it be propagated from cuttings??

[@OlgaCarmody]

It can, but doing it from little rooted runners is so much easier.

[@ThePinkfluf]

I love vinca. ❤️ my favourite along with Ivy and ferns. And I mix them all up together with some foxgloves 🙏🩷 Your garden is lovely.

[@ravenfeathesDVM]

I have in Vinca minor in my yard. I bought 3 flats of it 12 years ago and it’s beautiful but it hasn’t spread much. Is it because it likes shady areas or that I have clay soil? I live in zone 9.

[@OlgaCarmody]

Vinca likes slightly acidic soils, and it likes shade. Can withstand dry soils. Are your soils alkaline? That can be the problem.

[@ravenfeathesDVM]

@@OlgaCarmody I don’t really know what the soil is, but I will research it. I really appreciate your feedback on this. I love this ground cover so much and I’m thinking of replacing my traditional “American” lawn with it along with natural edibles instead of having the upkeep of lawn like everyone does. I love to grow things and I do have a “ green thumb. It me think that my soil is the issue now that you mention it. Thank you so much! 💕 Love your channel also.

[@MonaLisaFire]

Hello. I brought a small one today thinking it was a cute house plant. Can it be kept indoors?

[@OlgaCarmody]

I never kept it indoors, I know that some folks do, not sure to which degree of success. You can try and see, maybe your vinca will love your house!

[@MonaLisaFire]

@@OlgaCarmody thank you I'm definitely going to try

[@YogiCecily]

Wow! I almost added Periwinkle to my garden, but now I think I’ll add it where I have out of control Clover at the back end of my garden. Which will win? :-)

[@OlgaCarmody]

I am casting my vote for Periwinkle!

[@barbarawissinger]

I have Vinca and Geranium Rozanne in one (6 meter long) bed to try and cut down on the weeds. I'm fine with the vinca spreading, but the neighbors might not be. Nevertheless, the look is beautiful

[@OlgaCarmody]

How is your Geranium Rozanne? I have 2 plants and they are not impressive for me, I will be moving them to better soil. Are they picky about water? I keep mine in dry sun and looks like my geranium doesn't like it there.

[@barbarawissinger]

@@OlgaCarmody They do best in part shade (mine are under the hazelnuts & are happy there).

[@prettylagoon]

Maybe I should just plant around a tree

[@sharedmoments1090]

Very refreshing garden. I do enjoy your video. If you have extra time you can check also the video I made regarding a garden in Antipolo, Philippines being taken cared of by my mom. Have a nice day😄

[@OlgaCarmody]

I can see that your mom loves plants! Have a wonderful day as well!

[@jeannemarie9185]

Vinca is one of the Devil's ground covers, only second to Winter Creeper for awfulness.