Vinca minor, or as most of us know it, Lesser Periwinkle, is an absolute gem for adding a splash of purple to your garden, balcony, or patio. It’s incredibly low-maintenance and plays well with other plants, making it a favorite for container gardening. If you’re looking to bring that gorgeous carpet of color to your balcony, there are just a few simple tricks to keep in mind to make sure it thrives.
Blooms and Flowering Season
Commonly called Dwarf Periwinkle or Creeping Myrtle, Vinca minor is a go-to groundcover for garden beds. But don’t let that limit you—it looks stunning spilling over the edges of balcony boxes! You can enjoy its charming blooms from April all the way through September. Depending on the variety you pick, you can play with different colors: “Alba” or “Elisa” offer crisp white flowers, “Atropurpurea” brings a deep reddish-purple, “Bowles” gives you that classic dark blue, and “Austria” features lovely violet-red tones.
Finding the Perfect Spot
When it comes to location, think “cool and shady.” While Periwinkle is pretty adaptable, it much prefers shade or partial shade over the baking afternoon sun. Direct, intense sunlight can be a bit much for this woodland native, so a north- or east-facing balcony is usually its happy place.
When to Plant
Technically, you can pop these colorful beauties into your containers any time the ground isn’t frozen. However, planting in early spring is the way to go if you want to catch the full show, as the first flowers usually wake up in April and May. If you were planting in a garden bed, you’d want a spacing of about 10–12 inches. For a standard 12-inch balcony pot, one healthy plant is usually plenty to fill the space. Just make sure to give it a good soak right after planting!
Pro Tips for Balcony Planting:
- Prevent “wet feet” by adding a drainage layer (like gravel or clay pebbles) at the bottom of your pot.
- Make sure your container has plenty of drainage holes.
- Give the root ball a good dunk in a bucket of water before planting until the bubbles stop.
- Plan for your first trim after the initial flowering period or after the plant has had a year to settle in.
Care and Maintenance
Since Vinca minor is a natural creeper, a little pruning goes a long way in a container. Without a haircut, it might try to take over your entire balcony! Regular trimming keeps it tidy and lush. Aside from consistent watering, this plant is about as easy-going as they come. It’s the perfect “set it and forget it” plant for busy gardeners.
Winter Care for Container Plants
Even though it’s hardy, Periwinkle in pots needs a little extra love during the winter. If possible, move your pots against a house wall or under a roof overhang to protect them from excessive winter rain and soggy soil. Wrapping the pot in burlap or fleece can also help keep the roots from freezing solid. And here’s a tip many people forget: keep watering it occasionally on frost-free days! Since it’s an evergreen, it still needs moisture even when it’s chilly out.