So you're looking at ground cover plants and periwinkle caught your eye? Can't blame you. Those glossy leaves and cheerful blue flowers make it a stunner. But here's the thing - I planted periwinkle as ground cover five years ago thinking it'd be easy. Boy, was I wrong. Half my garden became a vinca jungle while the other half struggled. This guide? It's everything I wish I'd known before I dug that first hole. We're covering soil secrets, invasive tendencies nobody talks about, and real solutions that actually work. Because let's face it - most articles make ground cover plants periwinkle sound like a fairytale. Reality's more complicated.
What Exactly is Periwinkle Ground Cover?
Periwinkle refers to two main species: Vinca minor and Vinca major. Both are evergreen, shade-loving creepers with those signature five-petal flowers. Vinca minor stays under 6 inches tall - perfect for carpeting the ground. Vinca major grows taller (up to 18 inches) with larger leaves. Both spread through trailing stems that root at nodes. Now, here's where people get confused: many call it "myrtle" but that's technically wrong. True myrtle is a different plant entirely.
I made this mistake when I first bought periwinkle ground cover. Asked for "blue myrtle" at the nursery and got something completely different. Save yourself the headache - always use the botanical names. The flowers? Typically periwinkle blue, but you'll find white ('Alba') and burgundy varieties too. Some have variegated leaves like 'Illumination' with gold edges. Pretty? Absolutely. But looks can be deceiving.
Quick ID Guide: Vinca Minor vs Major
| Characteristic | Vinca Minor | Vinca Major |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf size | 1-2 inches | 2-3 inches |
| Height | 3-6 inches | 12-18 inches |
| Flower size | 1 inch diameter | 1.5-2 inches diameter |
| Cold hardiness | Zones 4-8 | Zones 7-9 |
| Spread rate | Moderate (1 ft/year) | Aggressive (3 ft/year) |
Why Gardeners Love (and Sometimes Hate) Periwinkle Ground Cover
What Works Great
Shade champion: Grows where grass won't - under dense trees I've got mine thriving under black walnuts where nothing else survives.
Drought resistant: Once established, survives weeks without water. Saved my hide during last summer's drought.
Erosion control: Roots stabilize slopes better than any mulch. Stopped my hillside from washing away.
Low maintenance: No mowing, occasional trimming. Perfect for lazy gardeners.
Deer resistant: Those glossy leaves contain alkaloids that deer avoid. Finally, something they won't eat!
What Sucks
Invasive tendencies: My neighbor still glares at me since mine invaded his rose bed. Roots travel underground silently.
Toxicity: All parts are poisonous to pets. Had to relocate mine when we got dogs.
Poor foot traffic: Walking on it creates bald patches. Useless for pathways.
Disease magnets: Fungal issues appear when airflow's poor. Lost 30% of mine to stem rot.
Hard to remove: That "easy ground cover" becomes a nightmare when you want it gone. Takes years to fully eradicate.
Honestly? I wouldn't use periwinkle ground cover near flower beds again. The constant containment battle isn't worth it. But for that nightmare slope behind my garage? Perfect solution.
Planting Periwinkle Ground Cover: What Actually Works
Most guides say "plant in spring or fall" and leave it there. Big mistake. Plant periwinkle in September if you're in cold zones. Gives roots time to establish before frost. In warm zones? October planting avoids summer heat stress. Soil prep is critical - I learned this after two failed plantings. Forget just digging holes. You need to:
My biggest planting fail? Trying to use periwinkle ground cover under pine trees. The needles made soil too acidic. Plants yellowed within months. Had to relocate them and amend soil with lime. Lesson: test soil under evergreens separately!
Sunlight Requirements Demystified
| Light Condition | Vinca Minor Performance | Vinca Major Performance | My Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full shade (2hr sun) | Excellent growth, fewer flowers | Good growth, sparse blooms | Grew well but needed 3 years to flower |
| Partial shade (4hr sun) | Best flowering, dense coverage | Explosive growth, abundant blooms | Sweet spot - covered 100 sq ft in 2 years |
| Morning sun only | Good flowering, moderate spread | Leaves may scorch in summer | Vinca major curled leaves by August |
| Afternoon sun | Poor growth, leaf burn | Severe stress, possible die-off | Total failure - replanted with hostas |
Keeping Your Periwinkle Ground Cover Healthy
Watering's tricky with vinca. Too much and roots rot; too little and growth stalls. Forget weekly schedules. Stick your finger 2 inches down - water only when dry. Use soaker hoses, not overhead sprinklers. Fungal diseases spread like wildfire when leaves stay wet. Fertilizing? Less is more. I use 10-10-10 at half strength in early spring only. Overfed plants grow weak and floppy.
Pests and Diseases You Can't Ignore
Aphids: Cluster on new growth. Blast them with water before using insecticidal soap. Happens every spring in my garden.
Spider mites: Leaves get stippled in dry heat. Increase humidity with mulch.
Stem rot (Phytophthora): Stems blacken and collapse. Avoid overcrowding and improve drainage.
Leaf spot: Fungal spots with yellow halos. Remove affected leaves immediately.
Last year I lost a whole vinca patch to root mealybugs. Nasty white bugs in the soil. Had to remove everything and solarize the soil. Now I check root balls at nursery carefully.
Pruning Strategies That Work
Prune in early spring before new growth. Don't just trim edges - cut runners back to main stems. Thinning dense patches improves air circulation. I use hedge trimmers for large areas. Important: clean tools with bleach solution between plants to prevent disease spread. Disposal? Never compost diseased cuttings. Burn or bag them.
Controlling the Spread: Your Containment Guide
Nobody warns you how aggressive periwinkle ground cover can be. Mine jumped a 12-inch sidewalk. Effective barriers:
- Physical edging: Install 10-inch deep metal or plastic edging. Concrete curb works best but costs more.
- Mowing perimeter: Maintain a 2-foot mowed buffer zone. Roots won't cross frequently disturbed soil.
- Root pruning: Twice a year, sink a spade around beds to sever escaping roots.
Natural suppression? Try planting competitive shrubs like boxwoods or potentillas nearby. Their roots slow vinca invasion. Chemical control should be last resort. Spot-treat escapes with glyphosate using a foam brush - minimizes overspray. I learned the hard way: spraying on windy days killed my azaleas.
Periwinkle Alternatives Worth Considering
If vinca's risks worry you, these alternatives perform similarly without the invasiveness:
| Plant | Similarities to Periwinkle | Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pachysandra | Evergreen shade ground cover | Non-invasive, dense coverage | Slower growing, needs richer soil |
| Creeping Jenny | Trailing habit, moist areas | Golden foliage, fast coverage | Needs consistent moisture |
| Lamium (Deadnettle) | Variegated leaves, shade tolerant | Beautiful flowers, well-behaved | Can get leggy in deep shade |
| Epimedium | Drought-tolerant shade cover | Unique flowers, sterile hybrids available | Slow initial establishment |
For my problem areas, I now combine epimedium with dwarf mondo grass. Gives year-round interest without vinca's headaches. Still miss those blue flowers though.
Periwinkle Ground Cover FAQ
How fast does periwinkle spread as ground cover?
Vinca minor grows about 1-2 feet per year under ideal conditions. Vinca major? Double that speed. My major variety covered an 8x10 area in 18 months. Too fast for small spaces.
Will periwinkle choke out other plants?
Absolutely. It smothered my hostas and astilbes before I contained it. Roots release chemicals that suppress nearby growth. Not a team player.
Is periwinkle safe around pets?
No. Contains vinca alkaloids that cause vomiting, seizures in dogs and cats. My vet bills after my dog nibbled some? $400. Fenced it off immediately after.
Why isn't my periwinkle flowering?
Three main reasons: too much shade (needs 3-4 hours sun for blooms), over-fertilization (encourages leaves over flowers), or old woody growth. Prune hard in spring to rejuvenate.
Can periwinkle survive winter snow?
Vinca minor handles snow beautifully - the leaves actually green up under snowpack. Vinca major suffers in zones below 7. My minor variety stayed green through -10°F winters.
Cost Breakdown for Periwinkle Ground Cover
Budgeting for periwinkle projects? Prices vary wildly. Here's what I paid for my 200 sq ft installation:
| Item | Cost Range | My Actual Cost | Tips from Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plants (4" pots) | $3-$6 each | $4.50 per plant | Buy in flats for 20% discount |
| Soil amendment | $20-$60 | $45 (compost + peat) | Bulk compost cheaper than bags |
| Edging material | $0-$200 | $120 (metal edging) | Essential containment investment |
| Mulch | $20-$50 | $30 (pine straw) | Helps retain moisture initially |
| Irrigation | $0-$150 | $85 (soaker hoses) | Saved hours of hand watering |
| Total for 200 sq ft | $200-$600 | $422 | More expensive than turf but permanent |
Could I have done it cheaper? Sure. But skipping edging cost me double later when removing escapees. Worth every penny.
Final Thoughts: Is Periwinkle Ground Cover Right For You?
After five years with periwinkle ground cover, here's my honest take: it's perfect for contained areas where nothing else grows. Steep slopes. Under dense evergreens. Between tree roots. But in mixed borders? Absolutely not. The maintenance outweighs the benefits. If you proceed, plant Vinca minor not major - slower spread means less containment work. And install industrial-strength edging BEFORE planting. Trust me on this.
Would I plant it again? On that erosion-prone bank behind my shed? In a heartbeat. In my shady front border? Never again. Choose wisely based on your specific situation. Because once this beauty settles in, it becomes permanent landscape architecture. For better or worse.