Position – Full sun, part shade or full shade
Soil – Well-drained
Flowering Period –Spring Summer and Autumn
Hardiness – Fully Hardy
Vinca are evergreen sub-shrubs or perennials with gorgeous star-like blooms that produce a mass of ground hugging foliage from spring through to autumn. They are highly useful in wilder areas of the garden as they will smother weeds and sit against difficult planting areas such as banks and slopes. They are best suited as groundcover or as underplanting. Alternatively, they make fantastic trailing plants in containers. Dependent on variety you should expect to see Vinca grow to an approximate height of 10-50cm (4-20”) and a spread of 90cm (35”).
Vinca are best planted in well-drained soil of chalk, clay, sand or loam within an acidic, alkaline or neutral PH balance. Take care when choosing an appropriate site for these plants as they can become invasive. At the time of planting, you should amend the soil with compost or other organic matter – mix this in well and water thoroughly. They are best positioned in an area of part shade or full shade although they will benefit from a little morning sun.
Vinca should be watered regularly until they are fully established ensuring that the soil is kept moist but free-draining. During active growth, these plants will benefit from a good all-purpose feed and should be cut back hard in the spring to promote healthy new growth for the following season.
It is possible to propagate Vinca by division during spring and autumn. Alternatively, you may wish to propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings during the summer.
