Content
- 1 Full description of the periwinkle plant
- 2 Are periwinkle and catharanthus the same thing or not?
- 3 Types and varieties of periwinkle
- 4 Application in landscape design
- 5 How to propagate periwinkle
- 6 Planting periwinkle seeds for seedlings
- 7 Planting and caring for periwinkles in the ground
- 8 Diseases and pests
- 9 Conclusion
Planting and caring for periwinkle in open ground is simple and accessible even for novice gardeners. The flower belongs to the Kutrovaceae family. Translated from Latin, its name sounds like “to entwine”, “to curl”. Decorative culture is capable of developing in harsh conditions, therefore it is a symbol of unbending vitality.An ancient legend says that in early spring the periwinkle flower complained to the goddess Flora. He complained that because of the beautiful violets, no one paid attention to his flowers. The flora increased the size of the buds and significantly extended the flowering period of periwinkle.
In some countries, people believe that the flowers of grave grass above the front door of a home can resist witches.
Full description of the periwinkle plant
In its natural environment, the periwinkle flower lives in Eurasia and Africa. Culture delights in diversity. A total of 12 varieties grow in the wild, including subshrubs, herbaceous ones, with erect and creeping stems, deciduous and evergreen.
Popularly, the periwinkle flower has many names: gentian, sorcerer's violet, joy of the earth, eye of the devil, coffin-grass, burial ground, witch's violet, grave grass, brilliant green
What does periwinkle look like?
The Russian-language name of the plant comes from the word “barva”, which is associated with colorful flowering. The different species differ in the following general characteristics of periwinkle:
- the root system is horizontal, up to 70 cm long;
- bush size up to 30 cm;
- branched shoots creeping along the ground;
- the color of the shoots is light green, green, with a red tint;
- leaves oppositely arranged on petioles, oval, leathery, glossy;
- leaf length from 3 cm to 5 cm;
- leaf width up to 2.5 cm;
- The color of the leaves is dark green, sometimes with cream, white, yellow, golden spots or borders.
The shoots weave around the ground, and the leaves and colorful flowers shining in the sun form a lush, multi-colored blanket
What do periwinkle flowers look like?
Single vinca buds are located in leaf axils.Various species and varieties are characterized by almost low-lying characteristics:
- flower diameter up to 3-5 cm;
- the color of the inflorescences is white, pink, blue, indigo, violet, lilac, red, burgundy;
- flowers are solitary, with a funnel-shaped corolla, with a cylindrical tube;
- petals are bent at the ends, with slight separation;
- the pistil and stamens are barely noticeable, located in the center;
- the number of petals is five;
- active flowering time - early spring;
- the full period of flowering of individual buds - throughout the entire growing season.
Vinca fruits are sickle-shaped cylindrical leaflets with small gray seeds.
Where and how does periwinkle grow?
Periwinkle flower is a beautiful ground cover plant that grows equally well in fertile and rocky soils. In the wild, creeping colorful islands of periwinkle can be found on steppe slopes and forest edges, in the Crimean and Caucasian mountains.
Many thin stems rise above the surface of the earth, they grow up to 30 cm in width
Winter hardiness of periwinkle
Some plant species are deciduous, others are evergreen. Both varieties are distinguished by enviable frost resistance.
Fallen leaves of deciduous species of periwinkle serve as reliable natural shelter for shoots and root systems during the winter.
The foliage of the evergreen periwinkle flower retains a rich green, glossy color even under the cover of snow.
Are periwinkle and catharanthus the same thing or not?
Until the mid-twentieth century, pink catharanthus was one of the varieties of periwinkle. Modern botanists tend to classify this evergreen subshrub as a separate genus of Catharanthus.
Under natural conditions, pink catharanthus lives in India, Transcaucasia, Kuban, Kazakhstan, Cuba and Madagascar
Types and varieties of periwinkle
The original ornamental plant has a centuries-old history. More than a dozen original species of periwinkle flowers represent a large number of varieties, each of which differs in external characteristics and place of growth. The description and photo of the periwinkle flower allow you to create a general impression of the decorative culture.
The two most common types of periwinkle flowers are large and small.
pubescent
The periwinkle flower (Vinca pubescens) grows in humid, warm regions. Scientists have discovered alkaloids in the biological mass of this plant, which are used to produce antihypertensive drugs (lowering blood pressure).
A distinctive feature of plants of this species is small flowers, up to 3 cm in diameter. The color range of pubescent periwinkle varies from purple to blue. Flowering period is May-June.
In the wild, the pubescent, or double, periwinkle flower is found in the mountainous regions of the North Caucasus
Albo Plena
The decorative variety of pubescent periwinkle Albo Plena attracts with the beautiful appearance of double inflorescences, in which the classic pentagonal shape is clearly defined. The color of the inflorescences is white, with a greenish tint.
The white mountain variety is practically not cultivated; it can only be found in its natural habitat (North Caucasus)
Flora Plena
The decorative periwinkle variety Flore Pleno is a pubescent variety. The plant delights with the magical purity of its sky-blue hue.
The flora of Plena forms dense thickets
Azurea Flore Plena
Azurea Flore Pleno is a delightful double periwinkle variety.The culture is characterized by long flowering blue buds.
Only one flower is formed on each branch of Flora Plena
Herbaceous periwinkle
Herbaceous periwinkle flower (Vinca herbacea) is a deciduous species that is found in meadows and deciduous forests of Central Europe, Asia Minor, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. Thin, strong shoots weave the ground into a continuous carpet. Wide, dark green leaves create a soft, lively cushion. The height of the peduncles is up to 15 cm, the diameter of the flowers is up to 3 cm. The blossomed buds are shaped like a propeller. Flowering continues from May to the end of June. Tinctures from the ground parts of this culture are used to treat diabetes, stomach diseases, and skin problems.
Bud color: white, gray, blue-violet
Alba
Ornamental periwinkle Alba is a popular herbaceous variety. Refined snow-white petals decorate dense thickets of branches and foliage with their soft glow.
The snow-white ornamental variety Alba loses its stems and foliage in the winter, and comes back to life in early spring
Pink
The pink evergreen periwinkle flower (Vinkarosea) is a subshrub characterized by the following characteristics:
- vertical arrangement of shoots;
- shoot height 40-60 cm;
- leaf color is dark green;
- the color of the buds is various shades of pink.
Flowering lasts from spring to early autumn. The pink species is called catharanthus or cayenne jasmine.
Grape Cooler
The decorative variety of pink periwinkle Grape Cooler is characterized by pink-red petals with a light center. Bush height - up to 60 cm.
The leathery, rounded leaves of Grape Cooler have a light central vein.
Peppermint Cooler
A beautiful decorative periwinkle variety, Peppermint Cooler, has a strong stem. The leaves are oval, large, rich green. The color of the buds is pink, with a bright crimson “blot” inside.
Peppermint Cooler - a beautiful ornamental variety
Okellatus
Ocellatus is an evergreen ornamental plant. The culture is distinguished by a bright red center against the background of a soft pink flower.
Lush flowering of the Okellatus variety decorates the garden for almost a month
Small
The small periwinkle flower (Vinca minor) spreads along the ground over a distance of more than 1 m, forming a lush and thick carpet. Due to the small size of the buds, this species is called “small”.
Bowles Valerie
Bowles' Variety is the most popular among gardeners. The rich blue color of periwinkle flowers stands out in contrast against the background of numerous green leaves.
Bowles Valerie's bright blue pentagonal stars delight in bloom all summer long
Argenteo Variegata
Argenteo-variegata is an original ornamental variety. Garden culture is noticeable by juicy, light spots on green foliage. The color of the buds is soft blue.
Flowers of the Argenteo Variegata variety delight with heavenly beauty
Atropurpurea
Atropurpurea is a small decorative variety. The color of the flowers is replete with purple colors. The core is clearly outlined by a whitish border.
Ground cover variety Atropurpurea - an unpretentious garden plant
Big
The large periwinkle flower (Vinca major) is a magnificent large-leaved species that blooms in spring and fall. It is characterized by the following symptoms:
- length of leaf plates - up to 8 cm;
- shoot height - up to 25 cm;
- The color of the buds is predominantly blue.
Vinca Variegata
Vinca Variegata is beautiful throughout the growing season. Light spots located along the edges of the leaf blades serve as a natural decoration for the plant throughout the summer. The color of the buds is sky blue.
Vinca Variegata can be used to decorate borders
Vinka Maculata
The variety of large decorative periwinkle Vinca Maculata is unpretentious and takes root well in various climatic conditions. The culture is distinguished by large light spots in the center of the leaves and a rich green border.
The beautiful sky blue color of Vinca Maculata buds delights with the beauty of flowering
Vinca Reticulata
The large periwinkle garden variety Vinca Reticulata is a variegated ornamental crop. In the sun, purple inflorescences amaze with the rich color of the petals.
The center of Vinca Reticulata flowers has a lighter purple hue
Variegated
Variegated clones of the periwinkle flower (Variegata) combine several ornamental varieties with unusual foliage color. The edges and spots on the leaf blades vary from white and yellow to various shades of gold.
Argenteovariegata
The variegated decorative variety Argenteovariegata is characterized by a bright yellow border along the edge of the leaves. Numerous light blue buds are the plant’s calling card.
Variegated Argenteovariegata belongs to the small variety
Alba Variegata
Decorative Alba Variegata is beautiful with a cream-colored border on green leaf blades. The flowers have a characteristic lilac hue.
The small variegated variety Alba Variegata is characterized by a beautiful crimson tube color on the buds
Golden
The Golden variety delights with its golden-yellow border on the decorative foliage. The blue color of the buds is in perfect harmony with the golden sheen of the leaf blades.
Young leaf blades of the Golden variety have a solid yellow color.
Ampelny
The ampelous appearance of the witch's violet is an exquisite ornamental crop, bred for decorating the local area, as well as for planting as a houseplant. All hanging varieties are annuals, which are characterized by the following properties:
- small bush size - up to 20 cm in height;
- the length of individual shoots is up to 70 cm;
- flower diameter - up to 5 cm;
- shades of flowers - white, pink, red, scarlet.
Flowering of ampel varieties continues all summer: from June to September.
Riviera
Riviera is an attractive ornamental variety with multi-colored buds. The color range ranges from white to soft pink and purple.
The flowering of the Riviera variety, planted in decorative pots or cache-pots, decorates the garden all summer long.
Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus is distinguished by its chic color scheme and abundant flowering. The height of the bushes is up to 20 cm, the diameter of flowers is up to 5 cm.
The hanging decorative Catharanthus Roseus is unpretentious and easy to care for.
Bark Cascade Apricot
The hanging variety Cora Cascade Apricot is very beautiful. Peach petals are crowned with a raspberry center.
In ornamental plantings, the hanging variety Cora Cascade Apricot retains its attractive appearance throughout the summer.
Application in landscape design
To decorate the local area, designers successfully use decorative varieties of periwinkle. The main reasons for the popularity of culture:
- durability, development and flowering in unfavorable environmental conditions;
- unpretentiousness, growth with minimal watering;
- ease of propagation and planting;
- attractive appearance.
The decorative periwinkle flower looks beautiful on wide borders, for creating borders of paths, flower beds, ridges
What flowers are best to plant with periwinkle?
The miniature periwinkle flower “gets along” well with a wide variety of “neighbors” in beds, mixborders, flower beds, and flower beds. Spring primroses are his constant companions:
- primrose;
- pansies;
- scillas;
- forget-me-nots;
- tulips;
- daffodils.
The vast majority of decorative varieties of periwinkle cover the planting site with a living carpet
How to propagate periwinkle
There are two main ways to propagate periwinkle:
- seminal;
- vegetative (dividing the bush, propagation by layering and cuttings).
The seed method is practiced by two main methods: seedlings, sowing in open ground. Sowing in the ground in early spring or before winter is used very rarely, since flowering occurs only after 2 years. To improve germination, carefully dig up the soil, moisten it, and form grooves according to a pattern of 3 cm x 10 cm. The seeds are distributed in the groove, sprinkled with soil and moistened well.
More often than others, gardeners use the method of dividing the bush. It is carried out together with part of the root. Periwinkle transplantation is carried out in early autumn or spring.
Cuttings are propagation by young shoots, which are separated from the mother plant and buried in the ground along with the base (the leaf part should remain on the surface).
Ornamental perennial varieties are propagated by layering. The shoots are pressed to the ground and sprinkled with earth.After rooting, the cuttings are separated from the mother bush using garden tools. Young plants are moved to a new location.
The photo shows planting and caring for periwinkle in various ways:
Periwinkle flower is an unpretentious crop that easily tolerates vegetative propagation
Planting periwinkle seeds for seedlings
It is best to start seed propagation of periwinkle seedlings in the spring.
The photo shows periwinkle seeds, which are two cylindrical leaflets without a tuft:
The seed material is quite large, so it is easy to plant it for seedlings one at a time
As containers for growing seedlings, you can choose small boxes (plastic or wooden).
The soil mixture is prepared from sand, peat, vermiculite.
Planting pattern: 4-5 cm between individual grooves.
When sowing, the seed material is deepened into the soil by 1.5-2 cm, thoroughly moistened, and covered with plastic film or glass to create a greenhouse effect.
Anyone, even a novice gardener, can plant and care for periwinkle at home from seeds.
Purchased or collected seeds remain viable for about 2 years
How to care for periwinkle seedlings
Until the first shoots appear, the box with seedlings is kept in a dark place at temperatures up to + 25 ⁰C. After the seeds germinate, the container is moved to a sunny place at a temperature of + 20 ⁰C.
Seedlings of decorative crops require minimal care:
- periodic ventilation of crops under film;
- moderate watering;
- removing the cover after seed germination;
- feeding 2-3 weeks after germination;
- picking after the first 4 sheets appear.
Growing a periwinkle flower begins with proper care of the seedlings.
Before transplanting seedlings into open ground, young bushes are hardened for 2-3 weeks
Planting and caring for periwinkles in the ground
Seedlings are moved into open ground after stable warm weather has established in May. Planting and caring for periwinkle in the Urals and other northern regions does not involve complex agricultural technology.
The plant is unpretentious, so it easily takes root in various conditions with minimal care.
Site selection and soil preparation
Open, sunny areas, as well as slight shade, are suitable for periwinkle flowers. The plant takes root well in a semi-dark place, under the crown of spreading trees, in the shade of buildings.
Places under large trees have a high level of humidity, so they are ideal.
Ground cover, hanging, deciduous and evergreen varieties are undemanding in terms of soil composition. Before planting seedlings, it is recommended to fertilize the sandy or loamy soil with humus and sand. Periwinkle develops best in the following soils:
- loamy;
- neutral;
- nutritious;
- loose.
The crop does not grow on swampy soil because it does not tolerate waterlogging.
The branches of spreading trees will protect the delicate sprouts of a periwinkle flower grown from seedlings from the scorching rays of the sun
Landing algorithm
The planting algorithm does not differ in complex agricultural technology:
- on prepared beds, holes are formed at a distance of up to 20 cm from each other;
- the seedlings, together with a lump of earth, are carefully moved into the planting holes;
- plants are pressed to the ground and well moistened.
To move seedlings into open ground, choose a cloudy or rainy day
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Excessive moisture is detrimental to the periwinkle flower. In the first stages of growth, young bushes are irrigated 2-3 times a week.After final rooting, watering is reduced to once a week.
During rainy summers, plants do not need irrigation.
Plants are fed with organic and mineral fertilizers no more than once a month.
The periwinkle flower tolerates fertilizer well with humus infusion
Weeding and mulching
After each watering of hanging varieties, the soil should be loosened and mulch applied. Groundcover periwinkle practically does not need weeding, since weeds do not grow in dense thickets.
The decorative crop itself requires periodic weeding and thinning, since the bushes grow very quickly and instantly weave the bed.
Without weeding, the periwinkle flower forms wild thickets, which in some cases look very distinctive
Trimming
In spring and autumn, the thickets are scanned to remove dried branches, shoots, and foliage. This allows you to maintain a fresh, attractive, decorative appearance of the bushes.
After pruning the shoots, garden periwinkle bushes grow quickly and rapidly
Wintering
Preparation for winter is a necessary measure for large garden periwinkle. For regions with cold and snowless winters, the plant is covered with spruce branches.
Decorative varieties are more frost-resistant, so they do not need winter shelter
Diseases and pests
The periwinkle flower is an ornamental crop with strong natural immunity. In rare cases, plants can be attacked by fungal pathogens:
- Rust - the main enemy. A fungal infection affects leaves and branches. The characteristic orange coating is a sign of the disease. Affected bushes should be removed from the garden bed and burned.
Fungicidal preparations are used to treat rust at an early stage.
- Aphid attacks periwinkle plantations.Plants are treated with a soap solution and wormwood infusion.
When an ornamental crop is actively infested with aphids, the bushes are sprayed with insecticide solutions
Conclusion
Planting and caring for periwinkle in the open ground involves simple measures that allow you to grow beautifully flowering ornamental bushes. Fashionable landscape designers use a beautiful creeping ground cover as the main element of landscape design. Actively growing, the flower covers the ground with a magnificent, voluminous green carpet.
