White Periwinkle Vinca minor f. alba
ABOUT
The common name for Vinca minor f. alba is white lesser periwinkle. This striking ground cover displays glossy, dark green leaves that provide a lush backdrop for its delicate and pure white flowers. These flowers typically have a pinwheel shape, consisting of five petal-like lobes that radiate around a central tube. The blooms emerge with a noteworthy contrast against the foliage and can create a carpet-like effect when in full bloom. This evergreen plant retains its leafy appearance year-round, consistently offering greenery even when not in flower. The plant is known for its hardiness and for the ornamental value it adds to gardens by forming a dense mat that can spread indefinitely under the right growing conditions.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Apocynaceae
Synonyms
White Lesser Periwinkle, Dwarf Periwinkle, Myrtle, Creeping Myrtle
Common names
Vinca minor var. alba (Besser) Regel, Vinca minor subsp. alba (Besser) Nyman.
ToxicityTo humans
Common periwinkle can be toxic to humans if ingested. Although ornamental and often used for ground cover, all parts of the plant contain alkaloids that can cause adverse health effects. Symptoms of poisoning from common periwinkle can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, and in severe cases, seizures, lowered blood pressure, and respiratory depression. It is important to seek medical attention if ingestion is suspected.
To pets
Common periwinkle is also toxic to pets like cats and dogs. When pets ingest parts of this plant, symptoms similar to those in humans can occur. These might include vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, depression, tremors, seizures, and potentially, coma. As with human exposure, ingestion of common periwinkle by a pet warrants immediate veterinary care to manage and treat the symptoms effectively.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
Height
6 inches (15 cm)
Spread
1-3 feet (30-90 cm)
Plant type
Creeper
Hardiness zones
4-9
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Ground Cover - Vinca minor f. alba, commonly known as white periwinkle, is often used as a ground cover due to its dense growth and ability to spread and cover large areas, which helps in controlling soil erosion.
- Low Maintenance - White periwinkle is valued for being low maintenance, requiring minimal care once established; it can tolerate various soil conditions and partially shaded areas.
- Drought Tolerant - It is relatively drought tolerant, which is beneficial in regions with water scarcity or for gardeners seeking to conserve water.
- Evergreen Foliage - The plant maintains its glossy green leaves throughout the year, providing consistent visual interest in the garden.
- Weed Suppression - Its dense and spreading nature helps suppress weeds, reducing the need for constant weeding in garden beds.
- Landscape Design - White periwinkle's vibrant white flowers add aesthetic appeal to landscapes and can be used in a variety of design situations such as borders, containers, and hanging baskets.
- Wildlife Friendly - The flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, supporting local ecosystems and biodiversity.
Medical Properties- Alkaloid Production: Contains alkaloids such as vincamine, which have been investigated for their potential effects on cerebral blood flow and cognitive enhancement.
- Antioxidant Activity: It may have antioxidant properties due to the presence of phenolic compounds.
- Traditional Use for Circulatory Disorders: Historically used in European traditional medicine as a remedy for circulatory disorders, although clinical evidence to support this use is limited.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Ground cover: Vinca minor, commonly known as periwinkle, is widely used in gardens for its ability to spread and cover large areas, which helps prevent soil erosion and suppresses the growth of weeds.
- Ornamental purposes: With its white flowers and attractive, evergreen foliage, periwinkle is popular in decorative pots, hanging baskets, and as an accent plant in floral arrangements.
- Erosion control on slopes: Periwinkle's mat-forming habit makes it useful for planting on slopes or banks where erosion control is needed without compromising visual appeal.
- Living mulch: Gardeners use periwinkle as a living mulch under shrubs and trees due to its dense foliage, which retains soil moisture and offers a low-maintenance cover.
- Shady gardens: Periwinkle thrives in shade where many other plants struggle, making it a favorite for shaded gardens and woodland settings.
- Culinary decoration: Though not widely known, periwinkle flowers can be used as a decorative, edible garnish in salads and desserts, given their non-toxic nature.
- Labyrinth designs: Its predictable growth pattern allows gardeners to create intricate labyrinth designs with periwinkle, which are both aesthetically pleasing and meditative.
- Photography: Photographers sometimes utilize periwinkle as a lush green backdrop or a contrasting element for spring photoshoots.
- Crafts: Dried periwinkle flowers and leaves can be used to make natural craft items, such as pressed flower bookmarks, cards, or potpourri.
- Festive decor: Around holidays, periwinkle's foliage and flowers are sometimes incorporated into wreaths, centerpieces, or other festive decorations.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Common periwinkle is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Common periwinkle is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Memory and Remembrance: Vinca minor f. alba, commonly known as the White Periwinkle, is often associated with memories and the act of remembrance due to its properties of remaining evergreen and retaining its leaves throughout the year.
- Persistency and Everlasting Love: As the White Periwinkle can spread and endure through tough conditions, it symbolizes persistence and the concept of everlasting love.
- Purity and Innocence: The color white in White Periwinkle conveys a sense of innocence and purity, often making it a choice in weddings and christenings.
WaterFor White Periwinkle (Vinca minor f. alba), water thoroughly when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch, which could be approximately once a week under normal conditions. During hotter, drier periods, more frequent watering may be necessary. Use a watering can or a gentle stream from a hose to soak the soil around the plant, avoiding overhead watering to minimize leaf diseases. On average, provide about one gallon of water per plant at each watering session, ensuring even soil moisture but avoiding waterlogged conditions. During the winter months or in cooler climates, reduce watering frequency as the plant's growth slows down and the evaporation rate decreases.
LightWhite Periwinkle thrives best in partial shade, so place it in a spot where it receives filtered sunlight or light dappled shade; avoid intense afternoon sun. It is also tolerant of full shade conditions, making it ideal for planting under trees or in the shadow of buildings. However, too little light may reduce its flowering, so ensure it gets some indirect sunlight for optimal growth.
TemperatureWhite Periwinkle is a hardy plant that can survive a wide range of temperatures, from as low as about -20°F to as high as 80°F, but it flourishes in the moderate range of 50°F to 75°F. It may suffer from frost damage if left exposed to extreme cold without a protective layer of mulch, and it can wilt or have reduced growth in excessively high temperatures.
PruningPrune White Periwinkle to control its spread and encourage a denser growth habit, as well as to remove any dead or yellowing foliage. It's best to prune in early spring before new growth begins, although light pruning can be done at any time throughout the growing season. Cut back the plant by about a third every few years to rejuvenate and promote more vigorous growth; more frequent light pruning may be done to maintain shape and size.
CleaningAs needed
SoilWhite Periwinkle thrives in well-draining soil rich in organic matter with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5. For optimal growth, a mix of loamy garden soil, peat moss, and perlite or coarse sand is recommended to ensure good drainage and aeration.
RepottingWhite Periwinkle, being a low-maintenance groundcover, does not require frequent repotting. It can be repotted every 2-3 years or when it outgrows its current container.
Humidity & MistingWhite Periwinkle tolerates a wide range of humidity levels and does well in average ambient humidity. It is not particularly sensitive to the humidity levels, making it adaptable to most environments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light and maintain moist soil.
Outdoor
Plant in partial shade, in well-draining, loamy soil.
Hardiness zone
4-9 USDA
Life cycleVinca minor f. alba, commonly known as White Lesser Periwinkle, initiates its life cycle as a seed which, upon germination when conditions are suitable, gives rise to small, green seedlings. The seedlings then develop into juvenile plants featuring a ground-hugging habit, with stems that start to spread, root at the nodes, and grow leaves. As the plants mature, they produce distinctive white, pinwheel-shaped flowers primarily in the spring, although sporadic flowering may continue throughout the growing season. After pollination, usually by insects, these flowers develop into fruit capsules that contain seeds, thus completing the reproductive phase. The plant continues to grow vegetatively, spreading through its rooting stems to form a dense ground cover, and is capable of perennial growth given appropriate environmental conditions. The periwinkle remains relatively evergreen through the seasons, often persisting in the same area for many years, with its life span being potentially indefinite under ideal conditions due to its penchant for vegetative propagation.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Summer
The most popular method of propagation for Vinca minor f. alba, commonly known as the white lesser periwinkle, is through stem cuttings. This method is typically carried out in the late spring to early summer when the plant is actively growing. A healthy, non-flowering shoot is selected, and a cutting of about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) is made just below a leaf node. The lower leaves are removed, and the cutting is dipped into rooting hormone powder to encourage root development. The prepared cutting is then planted in a moist potting mix and kept in a warm, shaded area until roots have established, at which point it can be transplanted to its final location.
