Vinca, periwinkle , an evergreen twining shrub. It springs up in woodland in the temperate countries of Europe. It grows several slender, prostrate shoots from its base, which trail along the ground and spread extensively. The leaves are small, oblong, and raised beneath by a bony midrib: they are shiny and the leaf margins are entire: they are of a pleasant but darkish green. The blue, rose-shaped flowers appear in spring. The cylindric, furrowed seeds are enclosed in coupled pods.

This shrub is quite widespread in several countries: it thrives in rich, damp soil and in the shade of trees. It propagates readily from cuttings and prostrate shoots which root as soon as they touch the soil. Its rapid growth and propagation soon cause it to invade a piece of land if it is left untended.

Periwinkles are of ornamental interest: when left to their own devices, they form carpets of greenery which are covered with flowers in March and April. One may make small hedgerows from them by supporting them with trellis-work, or leave them to twine round the stems of large trees in order to cover the trees with verdure. Since these shrubs grow vigorously in areas where no other plant would thrive, in cool, shady sites of a northerly exposure which have been densely planted with trees, they may doubtless be used to complete the layout of a large garden. Moreover, this plant has some interesting properties and several medicinal uses.

Periwinkles rarely seed, but they propagate so readily of their own accord that this is not a drawback. However, they can be made to fructify by being kept out in the open, in pots lined with thin layers of soil.

There are several periwinkles, of which the following are the most widespread.

1. Blue periwinkle, which is the most common. [1]

2. White periwinkle.

3. Periwinkle with a reddish flower.

4. Blue, double-flowered periwinkle.

5. Blue and deep crimson double-flowered periwinkle.

6. Double-flowered periwinkle with diverse colours.

7. Silver-leaved periwinkle.

8. Greater periwinkle with a blue flower: this shrub is larger than the preceding sorts in each of its organs. [2] It has shiny leaves and flowers of a fine, bright blue. It flowers continuously from the beginning of spring for a period of four months. This plant has been known to grow to a height of twelve feet in two years. It is most suitable for covering north-facing walls.

9. Greater periwinkle with a white flower.

10. Variegated greater periwinkle.

11. Madagascar periwinkle: a precious and charming shrub which grows to only twelve or fifteen feet. [3] Its flowers resemble those of the rose bay but it is hardier, more beautiful, and longer-lasting. [4] It flowers continuously for a period of over six months. Direct sunlight brings the flowers on instead of drying and withering them. This plant is tender: it should be tended like the myrtle and propagated from seed.

Notes

1. Vinca minor, of which the cultivars include ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ (white flowers), ‘Burgundy’ (red-purple flowers), ‘Plena’ (double-flowered form), ‘Multiplex’ (purple flowers), and ‘Argenteovariegata’ (leaves with a white margin); Huxley et al., 1992, iv.665.

2. Vinca major, of which the cultivars include ‘Alba’ and ‘Variegata’ (ibid., p. 664).

3. Catharanthus roseus.

4. Nerium oleander.