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Dart’s Blue Periwinkle

Category:

This beautiful groundcover is a variation of the Bowles variety that is less prone to disease and has blue flowers instead of the lilac-lavender usually found; partial shade is best with well drained soil but will grow quite well in heavy clay

Characteristics

Average Landscape Height:
3 inches
Average Landscape Width:
18 inches
Growth Rate:
fast
Genus:
Vinca
Species:
minor
Cultivar:
Dart's Blue
Flower Color:
blue
Flower Period:
from mid spring to early summer
Summer Foliage Color:
dark green
Minimum Light:
shade
Maximum Light:
full sun
Minimum Moisture:
average
Maximum Moisture:
moist
Plant Form:
spreading
Canopy:
closed
Pruning:
should not need pruning
Pollution Tolerance:
high
Other Species Names:
Common Periwinkle, Creeping Myrtle
Branching:
herbaceous
Evergreen:
1
Flower Eye Color:
white

Ornamental Features

Dart's Blue Periwinkle has masses of beautiful blue flowers with white eyes along the stems from mid spring to early summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its small glossy oval leaves remain dark green in color throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Dart's Blue Periwinkle is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

Planting & Growing

Dart's Blue Periwinkle will grow to be only 3 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. However, you may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Dart's Blue Periwinkle is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

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