Vinca minor ‘Atropurpurea’ is the purple version of periwinkle we all know and love, even the RHS who have awarded it their AGM.

This prostrate, evergreen plant forms a neat carpet of lance-shaped, dark green leaves – excellent for suppressing weeds in sun or partial shade. The purple flowers are like gems lying on a green velvet cloak.

Vinca (vin-ka) is a genus in the family Apocynaceae, native to Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia. The English name periwinkle is shared with the related genus Catharanthus. In India the plant is known as sadaphuli meaning “always flowering”. It gets its botanical name from the Latin: vincire “to bind, fetter”, possibly referring to the long, tough runners.

Vinca is a fantastic evergreen groundcover vine that is immensely popular in perennial gardens. Vinca grows well in partial sun to light shade, and almost any soil, 

When Vinca isestablished the runners will root in wherever they touch the ground and the plant will spread. The variegated Vinca cultivars are much slower growing but really light up the shade garden with their yellow leaves and blue flowers.

In the garden, Vinca can be combined with any plant that is tall enough not to be smothered by it. Try pairing Vinca with other hardy perennials like Hellebore,Hosta, or Heuchera. Or simply let it grow by itself! Vinca can also be grown as a spillover plant next to stone walls or in containers.