Vinca minor f. alba

RHS Plant Profile

white-flowered lesser periwinkle

Other common names

small white periwinkle

Synonyms

Vinca minor 'Alba'
Vinca minor f. alba Beth Chatto selection

Herbaceous Perennial Shrubs

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an evergreen perennial with long, prostrate shoots bearing neat, ovate leaves, and single white flowers from spring to early autumn

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Apocynaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Vinca can be evergreen subshrubs or herbaceous perennials, with simple, paired leaves and solitary, 5-lobed, salver-shaped flowers in the leaf axils
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe, W Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in all but the driest soils. Flowers best in full sun but very useful for shady areas. May have the potential to become a nuisance if not managed well

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring or autumn and by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Ground cover
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 6

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to a rust