Perennial periwinkle propagates reliably from cuttings year-round and will root in just two to four weeks if kept in warm, humid conditions. However, the cuttings perform best if first treated with rooting hormone talc.

Can periwinkles be propagated from cuttings?

Periwinkle plant propagation takes only 18 days for the roots to appear. The stem cuttings are used to propagate in both soil and water. Periwinkle plant is also known as Vinca plant.

Does periwinkle root in water?

Gardeners prize vinca as a landscaping plant that can grow in sun or shade, spreads rapidly and thrives in dry or moist conditions. Root vinca in one of three ways: layering, rooting cuttings in water, or rooting cuttings in soil.

How do you root periwinkle cuttings in water?

Water the periwinkle one hour before taking cuttings, then use sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut the tip of a stem without flowers. Make each cutting 2 to 6 inches long, with at least three sets of leaves. After taking the cuttings, trim the leaves off the bottom half off each cutting.

Can periwinkles be rooted?

Common periwinkle puts on new growth all year, so it can be successfully rooted indoors year-round. However, it performs best when started in midspring when growth is most vigorous.

How to Grow Vinca/Periwinkle from Cuttings

30 related questions found

How do you keep Vinca from getting leggy?

Pinching. Caring for bedding plants often includes pinching. Pinching means to remove new growth at the tips of the branches so the plant does not become leggy.

How long does periwinkle take to grow?

At a 6-inch spacing periwinkle will completely cover an area in one year. Plant whenever the soil is workable and provide sufficient water, especially when planting in summer.

How do you make Vinca grow faster?

Trim Vinca minor down to about 4 inches high with pruning shears in the spring to thicken growth and promote new shoots. Bag the clippings securely in a lawn and garden bag to prevent the clippings from taking root elsewhere.

What is the difference between Vinca major and Vinca minor?

The main difference between Vinca major and Vinca minor is that the leaves of V. major are slightly broader, larger, ovate, or heart shaped, while those of V. minor are small, elongated, lance-shaped. This can help identify the species.

How do you make periwinkle bushy?

How to Prune Periwinkles

1. Prune periwinkles back to about four inches tall with clean, sharp shears in early spring to reduce the plant's natural tendency toward ranginess. ...
2. Feed periwinkles after pruning to promote rapid, vigorous new growth.

Can you propagate a vinca plant?

For propagating cuttings from the mother plant, use scissors to snip a stem with four to five leaves. Do not keep them in direct sunlight. Then, you can place them in a pot with well-draining soil. If you want your cuttings to grow more roots beforehand, leave them suspended in water for about a week.

Can you divide vinca?

Vinca propagates readily from divisions, which will quickly establish themselves once transplanted into a suitable growing site. Although they require little care to put down roots, vinca divisions must be taken during the right season to ensure success.

How do you grow vinca?

Annual vinca is best grown in a sandy loam soil in a full sun location. Although tolerant of drought, it will perform best with a weekly water soak rather than sprayed from overhead. 3 Vincas are free-flowering and self-cleaning, and no deadheading is necessary.

How do you propagate big leaf periwinkle?

Propagating Bigleaf Periwinkle

Water the plant before cutting and snip a stem that is between 4-6 inches long. Root this in a container with a potting mix containing peat moss and perlite. Keep the soil moist; using a plastic bag to hold in humidity may help. Roots should form in 2-3 weeks.

What is periwinkle good for?

Periwinkle is also used for treating diarrhea, vaginal discharge, throat ailments, tonsillitis, chest pain, high blood pressure, sore throat, intestinal pain and swelling (inflammation), toothache, and water retention (edema).

How does periwinkle reproduce?

The root system produces woody rhizomes and slender secondary roots. This plant can reproduce vegetatively through underground runners, or the stems above ground can form rootlets at the leaf nodes. It often forms dense colonies that exclude other species of plants.

What's the difference between vinca and periwinkle?

Periwinkle is the common name for this pretty plant that belongs to the dogbane or Apocynaceae family. ... Vinca major and vinca minor are shade-loving ground covers, and vinca vine is a trailer with variegated leaves often used in window boxes and containers.

Are impatiens and vinca the same?

Impatiens flowers are truly flat, whereas vinca flowers have a deep and almost bell-shaped structure. ... Vinca leaves have a dark, glossy color and a pointed tip, whereas the leaves of an impatiens plant are bright green and have scalloped edges.

What can I plant instead of vinca?

As an alternative, Mr Smarty Plants recommends you look into planting Mitchella repens (partridgeberry) which has cordate leaves, white twin flowers, and red berries or Gelsemium sempervirens (evening trumpetflower) which has wider spaced leaves and reddish stems, often white and waxy.

How do you encourage periwinkle to spread?

Periwinkle can be grown from seed, but it grows slowly. A better bet is to use divisions or nursery transplants. Just a few plants will spread to fill in a large area. Enrich the soil with compost, manure and peat moss to improve drainage before planting.

What flowers go well with vincas?

Complement your Vinca, Perennial with these varieties:

• Hellebore. The early flowers of Hellebore contrast nicely with the evergreen foliage and spring bloom of Perennial Vinca.
• Hosta. Plant Perennial Vinca in your shade garden and let it ramble around taller perennials like Hosta.
• Astilbe.

Does vinca like sun or shade?

Since annual vincas are native to Madagascar, they need the summer heat to thrive. Full sun is best, but they can take part shade if there's good air circulation. If an area is too stuffy, the plant can develop fungal problems. Vinca can also stand up to drought.

Why is periwinkle called flower of death?

Periwinkle, an evergreen trailing groundcover, is a common invader throughout most of the United States. It is native to Europe, where it was commonly known in folklore as the “flower of death” because its vines were woven into headbands worn by dead children or criminals on their way to execution.

Can you walk on periwinkle?

Periwinkle (Vinca minor) [VIN-kah MY-nor]

Its dense foliage stays green year-round, and has nice periwinkle-colored flowers during the spring and summer. ... It is tolerant of sun, but prefers partial shade and can turn yellowish when exposed to the hottest summer sun. It's durable -- you can walk on it.

Do periwinkles bloom all summer?

The blooming period for vinca flower, also called periwinkles or Catharanthus roseus officially, depends on what types of vinca are involved. ... major) bloom primarily in spring. Annual vincas bloom through the summer. All vincas are usually ground covers or container plants.