Vinca minor : an ornamental tree
Periwinkle spreads across the ground like a thick, beautiful carpet. It brings fresh green color from early spring to late autumn and can even be seen under snow. Its small blue flowers are scattered among its expressive leaves, making it a charming ground cover.
The plant is often grown as an ornament in areas that aren’t suitable for delicate garden flowers. It also has uses in medicine and traditional healing.
Basic facts Lesser periwinkle is a perennial plant belonging to the dogbane family. It has a long, horizontal root called a rhizome. Its upright stems grow 15 to 20 centimeters tall and have blue flowers that are 2 to 3 centimeters wide.
As an ornamental, it can develop flowering stems that reach 40 to 60 centimeters. The plant also spreads with the help of sterile stems, which can grow up to one and a half meters long. These stems help it root and grow in new places.
Periwinkle blooms from April to September, with the most showy display in spring. During this time, it looks especially vibrant.
People often call it the graveyard plant. It is commonly planted on graves to create a dense, evergreen cover. It keeps weeds away and looks fresh all year round.
The plant originally comes from Europe and Asia Minor. Today, it grows on nearly all continents. It thrives in dry gullies, on forest edges, in bushes, and under fences.
