Vinca and periwinkle are two common garden plants that tend to cause confusion, as they share the same common name of periwinkle. However, there are several key differences between vinca and periwinkle that gardeners should be aware of.
Overview
Vinca and periwinkle belong to the same family, Apocynaceae. However, they are two distinct plant genera:
-
Vinca contains 7 species, including Vinca major and Vinca minor.
-
Periwinkle contains only 1 species, Catharanthus roseus, which used to be classified under the Vinca genus
While their flowers may look alike, vinca and periwinkle have very different growth habits and uses in the garden. Learning to tell these plants apart will help you choose the right one for your needs.
Key Differences
Here are the main differences between vinca and periwinkle:
Growth Habit
-
Vinca are trailing or creeping plants that function as ground covers, reaching 6-18 inches tall.
-
Periwinkle is an upright annual plant that grows 10-16 inches tall.
Foliage
-
Vinca has glossy oval-shaped leaves about 1-3 inches long.
-
Periwinkle has longer, narrower leaves around 2-4 inches long.
Flowers
-
Both have 5-petaled flowers in shades of blue, purple, red and white that bloom in spring/summer.
-
Vinca flowers are smaller, around 1-2 inches wide. Periwinkle blooms are larger at 2-3 inches wide.
Uses
-
Vinca makes a durable, easy care ground cover. It also spills nicely over container edges.
-
Periwinkle works well as an annual bedding plant, in borders and containers.
Growth
-
Vinca are evergreen perennials hardy to zones 4-9.
-
Periwinkle is a tender annual that cannot withstand frost.
Invasiveness
-
Vinca species spread aggressively and can become weedy or invasive in some regions.
-
Periwinkle has a better-behaved, mounded habit and is not invasive.
Vinca Varieties
There are two main species of vinca used in landscaping:
Vinca Minor
Vinca minor, also known as common periwinkle, is a low-growing, trailing vinca. It produces blue flowers in spring over lustrous dark green foliage. There are many cultivars with different flower colors and variegated leaves.
Vinca Major
Vinca major is often called greater periwinkle. It is a more upright, larger plant reaching 18 inches tall and spreading several feet wide. Its blue flowers bloom in summer over darker green foliage. Some varieties have variegated leaves.
Periwinkle Varieties
The annual Catharanthus roseus goes by several names, including annual vinca, Madagascar periwinkle and rosy periwinkle. There are many cultivars with varying flower colors and habits:
-
Cora Cascade: Trailing variety with multicolored blooms.
-
Cooler: White blooms with bright red centers.
-
Peppy Purple: Vibrant purple flowers.
-
Pretty ‘N’ Pink: Bright pink blooms.
-
Strawberry: Deep pink flowers with a white eye.
While vinca and periwinkle look similar at first glance, they have distinct differences when it comes to growing habit, uses in the garden and invasiveness. Vinca makes a hardy evergreen ground cover, while annual periwinkle functions well as a flowering bedding plant. Learning to distinguish these two plants will lead to growing success.
There are many different flower colors and leaf patterns available.
- Alba-This variety has pure white flowers and green leaves.
- Atropurpurea- Sports wine purple flowers and green leaves.
- Bowles-The classic Vinca with periwinkle blue flowers and green leaves.
- Illumination-A variety with bright gold leaves and a green edge. Periwinkle blue flowers in spring and fall.
- Miss Jekyll-A compact white flowering variety.
- Moonlit-Green leaves are edged in cream. Double blue flowers.
- Ralph Shugert-Green leaves are edged with white. Blue single flowers.
This species originates from the Mediterranean and has three and a half inch leaves with two inch flowers. The plant reaches 18″ tall, and spreads 5-10 wide. All varieties have blue flowers April through June. The seeds of this species have been historically used medicinally.
- Maculata-This variety has green leaves with gold centers.
- Variegata-Green leaves are edged with white.
- The leaves of Wojos Gem are cream colored with green edges, and the stems are pink. Some leaves start out all cream and get spots as they age.
Varies daily, late April through October. Please contact us for current availability.
Family: Apocyaceae
Genus: Vinca
Common Name: Periwinkle, Myrtle
Origin: This genus contains 7 species native to Northern Africa, central Asia and Europe.
Culture: Evergreen ground covers which thrive in fertile well drained soil, but tolerate less ideal conditions. They tolerate almost any sun exposure from full sun to full shade. Regular water is required for the first year. Once established, Vinca is drought tolerant. Vinca minor is hardy in zones 4-9, Vinca major 7-11.
Maintenance: Vinca can spread into areas it is not wanted so annual trimming of wandering shoots is recommended. Fertilizing in spring with an all purpose fertilizer will help keep Vinca lush.
Pest and Disease: Generally pest and disease free. Vinca can rot if the soil doesn’t drain well, get botrytis if air flow is slow, or get aphids if it is stressed.
When You Should Plant Vincas (Periwinkles)
FAQ
Are periwinkle and vinca the same?
Do periwinkles come back every year?
Do vincas like sun or shade?
What are the two types of vinca?
What is the difference between Vinca minor and Periwinkle?
This is the most distinct feature to tell apart Vinca minor vs. major. Greater periwinkle is larger than Lesser periwinkle, as their names imply. Generally, all features of the V. minor are slightly smaller than those of the V. major, despite both having widespread growth patterns and vegetative vines.
Is Vinca a perennial?
Vinca major vs. minor types are a popular evergreen groundcover due to its shiny green foliage and long stem flowers in striking violet-blue. These evergreen perennials can make themselves the star of your gardens regardless of being planted in beds, borders, and containers.
What does a periwinkle plant look like?
While the greater periwinkle has heart-shaped leaves, those of the minor periwinkle are rather elongated with lance-shaped tips. Both species have leathery-feeling, lustrous, and deep green leaves with hairy leaf stalks.
What is the difference between a periwinkle and a big Vinca?
That said, the 20mm petiole of the big vinca is significantly longer compared to the common periwinkle plant, which is no longer than 3mm. Both plants have similar-looking stems that are hairless, green, or flushed red. Minor periwinkle stems are trailing, and this periwinkle vine can root throughout its length.
How big are vinca periwinkle leaves?
Size comparison is also applicable in terms of Vinca leaves. The size of the V. major leaves is from 1.5 to nearly double as big as those of the common periwinkle. That is the reason why the former is also called bigleaf periwinkle. Specifically, large periwinkle leaves are 3 – 9 cm long and 2 – 6 cm wide.
Is Periwinkle a good ground cover?
Periwinkle on Amazon. Vinca on Amazon. Vinca and periwinkle plants are two of the most popular choices for ground cover. Both types of plants are easy to care for and require little maintenance. However, there are a few key differences between these two types of plants. Vincas are more tolerant of full sun, while periwinkles prefer partial shade.