Ralph Shugert Variegated Periwinkle
Vinca minor ‘Ralph Shugert’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-8b  Find Your Zone
Plant Type:Â Evergreen Flowering Groundcover
Height or Length at Maturity:Â 3-6″
Width at Maturity:Â 3′ +
Spacing:Â 18-24″ apart for groundcover
Spacing:Â 18-24″ apart for groundcover
Growth Habit / Form:Â Dense, Spreading/Trailing
Growth Rate:Â Moderate to Fast
Flower Color:Â Lavender-Blue
Flower Type:Â Â Single
Flower Size:Â 1″
Flowering Period:Â Spring
Flowering Period:Â Spring
Fragrant Flowers:Â No
Foliage Color:Â Very Dark Green with White variegation
Fragrant Foliage:Â No
Berries:Â No
Sun Needs:Â Full Sun (Zones 4-6), Morning Sun, all day Dappled Sun, all day Filtered Sun, or Full Shade (Zones 7-9)
Water Needs:Â Â Average
Soil Type:Â Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt
Soil Drainage:Â Well Drained
Soil pH:Â 6.0 – 6.5
Maintenance / Care:Â Low
Attracts:Â Visual Attention
Resistances:Â 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:Â 18-24″ apart for groundcover
How To Measure for Total Square FeetÂ
How Many Plants to Fill a Planting AreaÂ
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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