Ralph Shugert Variegated Periwinkle

Vinca minor ‘Ralph Shugert’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-8b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Groundcover

Height or Length at Maturity: 3-6″

Width at Maturity: 3′ +
Spacing: 18-24″ apart for groundcover

Growth Habit / Form: Dense, Spreading/Trailing

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast

Flower Color: Lavender-Blue
Flower Type: Single

Flower Size: 1″
Flowering Period: Spring

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Very Dark Green with White variegation

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Sun Needs: Full Sun (Zones 4-6), Morning Sun, all day Dappled Sun, all day Filtered Sun, or Full Shade (Zones 7-9)

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Well Drained

Soil pH: 6.0 – 6.5

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Heat, Heavy Shade, Humidity, Insect

Description

‘Ralph Shugert’ Variegated Periwinkle is a fast spreading, shade-loving, evergreen perennial groundcover plant that produces lots of pretty lavender-blue periwinkle flowers in spring. The flowers appear just above a dense, low carpet of glossy dark green leaves edged in a creamy white. The evergreen foliage remains attractive year round. The vines are quite aggressive, and will quickly form a dense carpet but do not climb, cover or choke out other plants in the garden. Hosta lilies, spring bulbs and other herbaceous perennial plants pop right through it in spring. Excellent for underplanting shade trees!

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 4 to 6 inches tall (lays flat to maybe 2 inches or so in winter) and spreading 3 or more feet, Ralph Shugert Variegated Periwinkle is ideal for use as a groundcover in shady landscape borders, home foundation plantings and under the canopies of large trees. Then perfect evergreen groundcover for use in perennials shade gardens where plants like hosta lily, ferns, bulbs and other herbaceous shade-loving plants will pop right through it in spring. The vines are quite aggressive, and will quickly form a dense carpet, but do not climb, cover or choke out other plants in the garden.

Suggested Spacing: 18-24″ apart for groundcover

How To Measure for Total Square Feet

How Many Plants to Fill a Planting Area

Growing Preferences

Evergreen Periwinkle is very easy to grow in most any average, moist but well-drained soil. As with so many other ornamental plants, constantly soggy or wet conditions can be problematic. So make sure to plant in a well-drained site. In USDA Zones 4 through 6, Evergreen Periwinkle will grow equally well in full sun or full shade. In USDA Zones 7-8, it grows in shade or part shade (morning sun with afternoon shade). It must have all-day shade in Zone 9.

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