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Vinca minor Family Apocynaceae Periwinkle, also called myrtle, is an native perennial ground cover from Europe. It likes shade to partial shade and blooms in early spring. The blueish purple flowers are about an inch in diameter and have five lobes. It is hardy from USDA Zones 4 - 9. It is a fairly tough plant when established, tolerating a fairly wide range of soils and growing conditions. Vinca minor is a creeping vine which is available in many varieties, the modern varieties having flower colors in purple, redish purple, and deep blue. Leaves are a deep, shiny green on the species, but different varieties may be variegated. Myrtle is propagated quite easily from division or cuttings. The cuttings are taken in late spring to early summer and rooted under mist. It may be divided in early spring or late fall by digging the plants and cutting apart at natural divisions in the root. Periwinkle was used in Medieval times to place on the heads of condemned criminals on their way to the gallows. In Italy it was placed on the bodies of dead infants. Today it has lost its bad reputation, as another name for this pretty perennial is "joy of the ground". |
