Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingThe Kutrov family.

Gardeners who have been growing garden periwinkles on their plot for several years will most likely confirm that their cultivation is not a job, but most likely a hobby and a pleasant pastime. This is because this culture is so unpretentious and hardy that it almost does not require additional trouble. These flowers need minimal maintenance, multiply easily and recover if damaged. Even without proper care, they grow, bloom, but do not look like a weed, do not lose their decorative effect. They transform any nondescript area in the garden, bring a bright touch and create a mood. That is why many experienced gardeners cannot do without periwinkle, who fell in love with this valuable perennial, which facilitates work in the garden.

The article provides tips for breeding this crop on the site.

Characteristics of the perennial periwinkle

The Latin name is Vinca. Russian transcription – vinca.

Periwinkle (Vinca) is a perennial herb with a powerful root system and squat or creeping shoots, densely covered with dark green glossy oval leaves and single, fairly large flowers. There are variegated forms with white-spotted or yellow-netted leaves. Flowers of bright blue, white, blue, lilac or pink color are formed throughout the summer and even autumn. At the same time, late flowering is rarely abundant and rich.

One of the undoubted advantages in the characteristic of this flower is not only unpretentiousness, but also the ability to grow rapidly, forming a lush variegated carpet on the site, and thereby, relieving the gardener from the need to fight weeds. Perennial periwinkle, covering the ground, does not give any chance for the growth of weeds.

Under natural conditions, it grows in Europe, the Caucasus, Africa and Asia Minor.

Small species periwinkle varieties (with photo)

In decorative floriculture, 2 types are mainly grown: small and large.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor) is an evergreen creeping plant. The shoots rooted in the upper nodes reach a length of 100 cm. Dark green, oval, wintering, shiny, leathery leaves are located oppositely on the shoots. Flowering shoots that develop in spring, erect at first, up to 15 cm high, later recumbent. Numerous flowers with a diameter of 2–2.5 cm are located in the axils of the leaves. Blooms from mid-May to mid-June. There are garden varieties of small periwinkle with white, pink, purple-red flowers, with silvery, variegated or yellow fringed leaves, however, wild-growing flowers (single with a cupped 5-split blue corolla) have a more beautiful shade.

Small periwinkle varieties:

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Bowles Variety is a robust, tall variety with abundant flowering. The flowers are large, white. It blooms in spring, sometimes in autumn;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Dart’s Blue” – similar to the above-described variety, differs from it only in a paler color of flowers;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Marie” – a plant creeping low on the ground with white flowers typical of all periwinkles;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Alba” – has white flowers with a reddish tube;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Emily Joy” – one of the recently bred small species periwinkle varieties with dark green leaves, against which the flowers stand out brightly and effectively;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Gertrude Jekyll is a compact, slow growing variety with small leaf blades and white flowers.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Atropurpurea” – unlike many other varieties of periwinkle has purple flowers;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Double Purple” is a sturdy, tall plant with medium-sized purple flowers;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Azurea Flore Pleno” – with blue flowers;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Variegata” is a perennial periwinkle flower with light green leaves bordered by a light stripe and blue flowers. Border color can vary from white to yellowish depending on growing conditions and plant age;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Argenteovariegata” – with a white border on the leaves;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Alba Variegata” – with a cream border on the leaves, white flowers with a lilac hue and a red tube;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Golden” – according to its description, the periwinkle flower of this variety has large leaves, along the edge of which a yellow border is laid;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Valley Glow” – has rich green leaves with a yellow tint;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Ralph Shugert” – with dark green leaves, outlined with a narrow border;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Moonlit” – double purple flowers and light green leaves with a cream border. One of the most beautiful varieties;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Illumination” – a periwinkle garden flower of this variety has large, dense, leathery leaves, on the surface of which a bold yellow brush stroke seems to have been applied. Sometimes the leaf of a given variety can be completely yellow. Slow growing variety.

What other varieties of periwinkle flower look like (with photo)

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Large periwinkle (Vinca major). The plant is creeping, with large leaves and large blue flowers up to 5 cm in diameter. This variety is much less common.

Varieties of large periwinkle with variegated leaves:

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Variegata” – green with a cream border;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Waste paper” – green with a yellow border.

There is one sign by which a large periwinkle can be easily distinguished from a small one: the first has petiolate leaves, the second has petiolate leaves.

The photo below shows varieties of periwinkle species large, on which you can see the characteristic features of each of them:

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Herb periwinkle (Vinca herbacea). This variety grows naturally in deciduous forests, on forest edges, meadows, rocky slopes. It has thin, spreading stems. Its leaves are narrow, widely spaced, light green. The flowers are white, graceful, outwardly reminiscent of a propeller.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Pubescent periwinkle (Vinca pubescens). In nature, it settles mainly in humid forests. In Russia, it grows mainly in the Caucasus and Primorye. It has dark blue flowers with a diameter of 3 cm. Flowering lasts from late May to late June.

The description of the presented types of periwinkle flower is supplemented by the photo above, thanks to which gardeners can better understand how they look on the site.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Pink periwinkle (Vinca rosea). Evergreen shrub up to 60 cm high. Stems are straight, slightly branched. The leaves are dark green, smooth, shiny with a white longitudinal stripe in the center, up to 7 cm long. Pink, sometimes white corollas are formed in the axils of the upper leaves. Flowering begins in spring with the onset of warm days, and lasts until late autumn. The fruit is a crescent achene.

Varieties of pink periwinkle:

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

“Grape Cooler” – purple flowers with a pink center;

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Peppermint Cooler is a white flower with a red center.

Features of growing and caring for a periwinkle flower

Periwinkle is an extremely unpretentious herb for open ground, which does not require special care and regular watering, and therefore can be recommended for a novice florist. When growing, some features of this culture should be taken into account.

Location. In the shade, it quickly loses its leaves, but in the sun it also quickly comes to its senses, although, in general, it prefers light partial shade.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

The most optimal option is to grow a periwinkle flower next to trees, in which it will play the role of a kind of mulch that retains moisture in the upper layers of the soil. The advantages of the plant include the fact that it tolerates trampling well, which means that it can be used for landscaping garden paths and stairs.

The soil. It can be planted on any soil, but this culture especially likes moderately moist loams with a sufficient amount of humus or compost.

Watering. Watering is necessary for the plant only after planting until complete rooting. It is enough to water a hardened bush once a week, as well as in extreme heat and prolonged drought.

Top dressing. Caring for a periwinkle flower also includes the introduction of dressings, which can be used as a mineral or organic fertilizer for garden ornamental crops. You need to apply fertilizer once a month, adding it to the water during irrigation in the amount specified in the instructions. You can also use a mixture of humus and leafy soil and sprinkle it under the bushes.

Transfer. A flower transplant is best done in the spring. During this period, the periwinkle takes root well and begins to bloom. You can replant in summer, but choose a rainy, cloudy day for this.

Pruning. When caring for a periwinkle plant, pruning should not be neglected, because this culture needs it for better branching and the formation of new buds. Pruning will make the shrub more lush, vibrant, and more beautiful. This work should be done in early spring. In addition, during the summer, it is necessary to remove dry branches and faded buds so that the periwinkle looks fresh and well-groomed.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

In favorable conditions, it begins to behave like a weed: it grows at an incredible speed and displaces other plants. Therefore, periwinkle must be thinned out from time to time. It is interesting that, having run wild, the plant does not lose its attractiveness at all.

Wintering. When growing a periwinkle and caring for it, an inexperienced gardener may have a question whether it is necessary to cover it for the winter. Although periwinkle is winter-hardy, in snowless winters it needs to be covered with spruce branches (especially, large periwinkle). The small periwinkle will easily survive the winter without additional protection.

Diseases and pests. Perennial unpretentious and very hardy periwinkle, like many other garden flowers, can also be affected by such pests, for example, aphids or scale insects. If pests are found, the bushes should be treated with soapy water.

To prevent rot and powdery mildew, you need to properly water this flower, avoiding waterlogging in the areas and stagnation of moisture in the soil.

The following selection of photos shows the features of keeping a garden periwinkle on the site and helps to better understand the features of this work.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Recommendations for growing periwinkle from seeds

This culture propagates by dividing the bush, cuttings in spring or late summer, less often by seeds. Rooting takes about one and a half months. When planted in summer, a year later, the periwinkle completely covers the soil, if the gardener does not take any measures to limit the growth of this flower.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

According to the recommendations of experienced gardeners, when growing periwinkle from seeds, in the spring, you must first prepare the seedlings. For planting seeds, choose small containers or boxes and fill them with soil consisting of sand and peat. The seeds are deepened by 2 cm. After that, the containers with plantings are covered with a light-blocking film or cloth and removed to a warm place with a temperature of at least 23 degrees. When shoots appear, the shelter is removed and the seedlings are exposed to the light. Watering is carried out periodically. When the first pair of leaves appears on the plants, they can be dived into separate pots, also filled with nutritious soil.

Strengthened seedlings are placed in the soil in May, when warm weather sets in. The distance between plants when planting should not be less than 30 cm. After planting periwinkle in open ground, young plants are regularly taken care of until they take root and adapt to a new place.

Reproduction of periwinkle by cuttings, layering and division

When propagating by cuttings, you need to cut the periwinkle shoots into cuttings with 3 – 4 internodes. This will help them take root faster. For rooting, cuttings should be placed in small pots filled with regular flower potting soil or a mixture of peat and sand. Pour the soil almost to the very top of the container and compact it. Place the cutting in a supine position and lightly sprinkle with earth. Then fix it with wire. After the work on planting the cutting is done, it is necessary to start caring for it for successful rooting. Care consists in periodic watering and hardening. The pot with the shank should be exposed to the open air in a shady place, increasing the residence time daily. In warm weather, you can put the cuttings outside for the whole day. On hot days, it is recommended to add spraying of cuttings to watering, it promotes rapid root growth. After 1.5 – 2 months, the stalk with roots can be planted in a permanent place.

Reproduction of periwinkle by cuttings is quite effective and helps to preserve the varietal characteristics of the plant.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Many types of periwinkle can be propagated using lodged stems (horizontal layering technique). Rooting in this way is always successful, due to the ability of the periwinkle to take root from any node in contact with the soil. The shoot laid on the ground must be sprinkled with a layer of earth in the place where the internodes are located, and fixed in this position. Cut the rooted shoot into pieces with sharp scissors or pruning shears, dig in and remove from the ground. After that, put in a new place.

The easiest way is to reproduce by dividing the bush. To do this, the gardener in early spring needs a fast, strong, well-grown plant, carefully dig it out of the soil and divide it into 3-4 parts, so that each of them has roots. Immediately plant the strips in a permanent place at a distance of 20 – 30 cm from each other. After planting the parcels of perennial periwinkle, you need to take care of them as well as for adult plants, but only much more often until they fully take root in a new place.

Variants of using the periwinkle garden flower (with photo)

There are many interesting options for how to use this flower in the garden.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Periwinkle is used as a cover plant for turfing walls, hills, embankments. The periwinkle lawn retains its decorative effect throughout the season. The flower is also used in flower beds in combination with other large and small perennials. It is also suitable for creating a low hedge.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

Knowing what a periwinkle flower looks like, you can already, before breeding it, think about where it is better to plant it in the garden, which plants to use as neighbors, what unusual compositions to make, combining with other ornamental crops.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

As already mentioned, this culture can grow rapidly, forming a continuous variegated green carpet. This allows the gardener to beautifully fill the existing voids on the site.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

All types of periwinkle look spectacular in garden design. The most interesting compositions are obtained in combination of periwinkle with bulbous plants, primrose, hyacinths, forget-me-nots, lungwort, ferns.

Periwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growingPeriwinkle: species and varieties, tips for growing

The photo above shows how beautiful the periwinkle looks like an ampelous plant, hanging from hanging baskets, pots and rocky hills. In this way, they decorate verandas, terraces, balconies and loggias.

Periwinkle has a number of medicinal properties and is grown on the site as a medicinal plant.

Anna Evans

Author-editor

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