Shoot Logo
Take a photoPlans & pricingBook a demoGet started

Question re care for Big leaf periwinkle (Vinca major)

Question re care for Big leaf periwinkle (Vinca major)

Question from Shoot User
1025 2
Hi,

I planted my two Big leaf periwinkle (Vinca major) 3 months ago (March 2009) and so far it is just growing in length! I have lots of shoots that are over 1metre long already but no flowers. Should i be cutting these shoots back to encourage it to become more bushy?
Thanks, Neil.
Posted: Friday 19th of June 2009 01:51 PM

  • Vinca Shoots

    Shoot User
    Hi Neil

    Your vinca sends out long shoots in order to make new plants - rather like strawberry runners. It will not flower on these shoots so you can cut them off if you do not want vinca running around everywhere or just 'peg' one or two into the ground around where you want your next Vinca plant to establish itself. These runners do establish easily.

    Vinca normally flower in Spring - I have a Vinca Major patch under a tree which I tend to treat like a hedge - trimming back hard after flowering and they come back bushier and sometimes even put on a second flowering.

    Vinca like fairly moist soil and can become dishevilled if allowed to dry out too much.

    Laura
    Replied: Sunday 21st of June 2009 11:23 AM

    • Thanks

      Shoot User
      Thanks Laura :-)
      Replied: Monday 22nd of June 2009 03:16 PM

  • Vinca

    Kathy N
    Hi, Neil,
    Great advice from Laura, pegging the runner will encourage rooting and once runners have rooted you can cut back to suit where you want the plant to be and like she said, shearing it back will make it bushier. Just a quick word of warning, depending how favourable the conditions are in your garden, Vince major can become invasive, choking out nearby plants, etc. It seems to me that people's opinions of it are similar to that of Marmite - you either love it or you hate it. Personally, I think it is a great ground cover as long as you are prepared to keep up with it.
    All the best.
    Kathy C.
    Replied: Monday 22nd of June 2009 10:04 PM
TOP