It is unlikely that any other plant undeservedly received as many unflattering names as a periwinkle flower. âWitch's violetâ, âcoffin-grassâ, âdevil's eyesâ, âburial groundâ, as soon as they called him in antiquity. A similar attitude to this beautiful plant was instilled by the Celts, attributing to it witchcraft forces and a connection with the other world. Perhaps this was due to the fact that they preferred to plant it on the graves, so that its green leaves and bright flowers would cover the cemetery ground, at least somehow decorating such a sad place.
But long before them, the periwinkle flower, the photo and description of which is given in this article, gained a completely different kind of reputation. For example, the ancient Greeks called it the "violet of love", woven it into the wreaths of the bride and groom, believing that the longevity of the flower would preserve their love for many years.
Nowadays, the periwinkle flower is a common garden plant that many gardeners love for their unpretentiousness and beauty.
Flower description
This plant is not uncommon both in the southern regions of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, as well as in more northern regions and countries. Most often, on flowerbeds in parks or alpine slides in personal plots, you can find a creeping kind of flower. The description of the periwinkle comes down to only two species, although there are several varieties of this plant, hybrid including:
- Vinca major is a large periwinkle whose stems can reach meter height, although specimens more often are 25-60 cm high. It has glossy leaves up to 8 cm long, large flowers, more often a sky-blue hue. It prefers warmth, therefore it is common in the southern regions, and tolerates the scorching steppe sun and partial shade perfectly.
- Vinca minor - periwinkle small - is a creeping shrub that rarely reaches a height of 25 cm. It has small leaves of bright green color 4 cm in length and medium-sized flowers. It tolerates frosts well, so it does not need additional shelter.
The remaining species of periwinkle flower are hybrids, but in general in nature there are only 12 varieties of this beautiful and unpretentious plant, which is extremely small on a global scale.
Varieties of periwinkle
Although there are not so many varieties of this plant, but they all enjoy the same love among landscape designers, and some of them also have healing properties:
- V. pubescens - this is how the name of a periwinkle flower (photo below) of the pubescent sounds in Latin. Its feature is the ability to take root where its creeping shoots touch the ground. Thus, this type of periwinkle quickly covers with a green-blue âcarpetâ the entire free area. It blooms in small single flowers of a blue hue, has the ability to drop foliage, and, despite the fact that its main place of growth is the Caucasus and equally warm places, it is better to cover bare stems in the winter, if grown on a summer cottage.
- VĂnca herbacea - translates as a grassy periwinkle. The flower grows in southern and central Europe, Asia Minor, occurring both in the steppe and meadow zones, and on the edges of the forest and even in the mountains. This is a perennial herbaceous plant, the creeping stems of which are rooted in the soil with its apex. Its five-petalled flowers are distinguished by a saturated violet (or with an admixture of blue) color. Caring for a flower with a grassy periwinkle as such is not required, only in snowless cold winters it is recommended to cover it with spruce branches.
- Vinca rosea is a pink periwinkle, which is characterized by a long flowering period: from the establishment of heat in spring to autumn. This is a fairly large plant, reaching a height of up to 60 cm, stands out with glossy green leaves with a white border and large pink flowers.
These are varieties of periwinkle that grow in the open ground, both in the wild and in home gardens or flower beds in city parks.
"Savage" in a flowerpot
So this plant would have grown in the wild, if not for the lovers - flower growers and breeders. Periwinkle is a variety of flowers whose varieties were bred by crossing its wild "relatives". Among them:
- Alba is the owner of beautiful flowers in pure white.
- Gold Vine is hard to miss, as its leaves have a yellow streak on the leaves, bordered by delicate greens.
- Morning Glory is a bright beauty with purplish blue flowers.
- Reticulata also stands out for its foliage, on a green glossy background of which golden streaks shine.
- Variegata (Elegantissima) - has leaves with a delicate creamy white border in the middle and small specks.
Care and planting of periwinkle flower in the open ground and at home are different. Consider what should be done so that this plant becomes an adornment of a flower bed or garden.
Place and soil preparation for planting
As a rule, these flowers are unpretentious and not capricious, so even sandy soil is suitable for them, on which little grows, but still heavy soil can significantly reduce their growth and flowering activity.
Usually, the periwinkle flower (the photo shows this) is used to âdecorateâ unsightly places in the summer cottage or as a dividing strip between the infield and a flower bed or garden, and also make it a background on an alpine hill, since the choice of location for this plant is not in priority. It feels good both in the sun and in partial shade, but in a very shaded place it will be worse to bloom.
That is why many landscape designers consider it a "lifesaver," because where no "noble" plants take root under the scorching rays, the planting of periwinkle flowers guarantees a landscape that pleases the eye.
Seed sowing
The best period for planting this plant is spring, although early autumn is also suitable if the climate is mild, and there is not even a hint of the first frost.
It is important to know: if you want to plant a periwinkle in the summer, then you should wait for cloudy weather or rain.
Sowing seeds does not require any additional manipulations, if the land before it was fertilized. If not, then it is worth digging and adding compost to the prepared area, then loosening and making shallow furrows (1-2 cm). Sown seeds are sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly.
Leaving immediately after sowing seeds is also not burdensome. We must not forget to water the plants and slightly loosen the soil, but this is provided that the season turned out to be dry. If it rains at least periodically, then this stage of caring for the flower with periwinkle (the photo above shows it already in all its glory of flowering) can be omitted.
Flower propagation
If there are no vinca seeds, then this flower can be propagated by dividing the bush, cuttings and layering.
If we are talking about a large or small variety of periwinkle, then cuttings are carried out in July, for which:
- should choose the longest shoots;
- cut them into pieces containing 3-4 internodes;
- distribute them over the prepared area (that is, dug up, fertilized and loosened) with a frequency of up to 20 pieces per square meter;
- sprinkle each section with earth and water abundantly.
It should be remembered that this is a place to get rooted seedlings, which after 1.5 months will need to be transplanted to a permanent "place of residence" at a distance of 20-25 cm between the bushes.
The simplest and fastest method of reproduction is the rooting of layering, for which the stems should be taken away from each other and sprinkled with shoots on the ground. This type of breeding is suitable when the size of the site allows.
The division of the bush with the preservation on each part of it of an earthen coma with roots is carried out either at the beginning of spring or at the end of summer.
Plant care
Periwinkle is famous for its long flowering, even when cut and placed in a vase, it does not fade until 20 or more days with a minimum amount of water in it. To be so, after planting the flower requires periwinkle care. The photo below shows it in a flowerpot, which is easier to look after than a whole flower bed. What to do if there is a lot of periwinkle and I want it to bloom as long as possible?
- First of all, the soil should be fertilized, for which they are suitable: organic matter (given twice a season), mineral fertilizers (diluted in water and watered plants 1-2 times a month).
- In order for the periwinkle to ânot occupyâ the entire area, immediately after flowering it needs to be trimmed, which will additionally form lush bushes.
- Watering is carried out depending on the amount of rainfall. If the summer is dry, then you will have to water it a couple of times a week during the flowering and active growth of vinca, the rest of the time - as needed.
It is for this minimal care, beautiful flowers that many flower growers love this plant, giving it a worthy place on its site or window sill.
Pests and diseases
Like other plants on the planet, periwinkle has a âsetâ of diseases and pests, although there are not many of them that can significantly shorten its age.
The first ones who strive to feast on its leaves are aphids and scale insects. Fungal diseases do not fail to make themselves felt if the plant is in a humid environment (for example, with heavy watering).
Powdery mildew will pass by itself, if the lesion is insignificant, and leave the area with flowers for a while without watering, aphids and insects do not like soap solution. It is enough to dilute it and spray the plants as they leave it. If a fungal disease has spread to a large number of flowers, you will have to treat the entire area with fungicides (for example, âKarbofosâ or âTopazâ are suitable).
At home, you can wipe each flower with a soapy solution, the glossy leaves of the periwinkle will shine even more.
It is important to know: if the plot at the dacha is large, and there is no time to process it, then it is worth planting a periwinkle on it. The plant will not tolerate a single weed near it, as it fills the soil with such a dense flowering "carpet" that no one can break through it.
âSurvivalâ with other plants
Since the periwinkle grows so quickly, can other flowers be planted next to it? This question is of interest to many beginner gardeners. Indeed, not everyone gets along with him, but they will be happy with his neighborhood:
- lungwort;
- hyacinths;
- primrose;
- forget-me-nots.
It is useful to plant periwinkle around trees and shrubs, since it protects them from weeds and pests, while being also an ornament.
Some designers use the flowers of periwinkle as a kind of vegetable "bedspread", on top of which rise higher flowers or ferns that are less whimsical to care for.
Periwinkle in folk medicine
As a medicine, periwinkle was used back in the days of Dioscorides (a doctor and pharmacologist in the Greek army, who lived in 40-90 A.D.). At first, people believed that prolonged flowering of a plant could prolong their life, and to some extent they were right.
The alkaloid contained in the plant has a beneficial effect on the cells of the body, preventing them from dividing incorrectly, thereby preventing the formation of cancerous tumors. Nowadays, this alkaloid in the form of extracts from plants was used to produce drugs for malignant tumors, until they learned how to synthesize it. But many homeopaths advise to prepare decoctions and tinctures from periwinkle and take as a prophylactic, since not a single synthetic substance can ever be compared in its properties to what is bestowed by nature.
What you need to know about periwinkle
When caring for this plant, remember that it is poisonous. That is why he does not have so many "enemies." If you use it for medicinal purposes, you must always consult a doctor and adhere to the dosage recommended by him.