Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea' | Periwinkle 'Atropurpurea' | {54 Pots - 2 1/2 in.}

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Periwinkle 'Atropurpurea' {2 1/2 in. Pots, min 54}

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Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea' (AKA Rubra', 'Purpurea', Vinca minor var. punicea, Vinca minor flore puniceo, Creeping Myrtle, Purple Periwinkle, Atropurpurea Periwinkle, Wine Periwinkle, Dark Purple-flowered Periwinkle)

Pronunciation: VINK-uh MY-nor at-roh-PUR-pur-ee-ah
Product: 9339

Shipping description: This product cannot be shipped to AZ, CA, NV, OR, or WA

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Content note — AI-assisted: Some images, descriptions, and specs on this page may have been generated with AI and might not be perfect. If you’re new to this plant, please check verified photos [here] and feel free to contact us with questions.

Perfect plum-purple pinwheel blossoms abound in early spring on Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea', creating a canvas of color that is the perfect backdrop to daffodils or tulips. With 1/2 by 1 1/2 inch rich emerald evergreen leaves that densely cover any area, you'll find many uses: in shade gardens, under rhododendrons, in rock gardens and covering stubborn areas.

After her heavy flush of blooms in spring, Atropurpurea offers dotted blooms throughout the growing season. Gardeners choose this Vinca for the punch of purple she produces in early spring as well as her year-round deep, green pools of foliage.

Gardener Tip
Use Atropurpurea with Hostas Bleeding Hearts and Lily of the Valley in shady locations for depth of color and texture.

See other plants that go well with this plant.

General information about Vinca (Periwinkle, Myrtle):
An American classic commonly referred to as Periwinkle or Myrtle, Vinca, with her graceful, cascading foliage on slim trailing stems and delicate phlox-like flowers, is an irresistible garden groundcover. Her blooms peek out in early spring and heavily cover the foliage, then sparsely persist throughout summer.

Evergreen and utterly low-maintenance, her lanceolate foliage (from 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long and 1/8- 3/16 inches broad) sits opposite one another and tends to be low-growing (though some varieties can grow up to 2 feet high).

It spreads far and wide as the long stems grow, touch the ground, and root where they touch. Because of her fast spreading habit and ability to blanket an area quickly, Vinca is useful at controlling soil erosion on shady slopes and for covering for large blank spaces and difficult bare spots under trees and shrubs.

Subshrubs with woody habits, both Vinca major and Vinca minor are highly sought after because they can completely carpet an area quickly and economically with the added bonus of delicate salverform flowers willing to blossom in shade or full sun.

Because she doesn’t climb, Vinca is a perfect alternative to ivy when you need a solid, resilient absolutely lovely, classic look. Gardeners love the fact that it is tolerant of infrequent foot traffic and deer. Provided she's given frequent drinks, Vinca minor is perfect for difficult poor soil, surprising many gardeners with her adaptability, but of course, she’ll blow your mind when planted in organic, moist, well-drained, loamy soil.

Things to Note
Compared to Vinca minor, Vinca major is less cold hardy, more tolerant of heat, has broader, hairier leaves, larger flowers, and twice as many chromosomes.

Comparison of V. minor vs. V. major

	Needs shade in	Prefers shade in	Tolerates full sun in
Vinca minor	Zone 9	Zones 6-8	Zones 4-5
Vinca major	Zone 11	Zone 10	Zone 6-9

Be aware that Vinca can be invasive, and should only be used in contained areas or spaces where she can have free run.

Only a thin layer (if any) of mulch should be used, because Vinca spreads by re-rooting where runners touch the ground.

Interesting Facts
Vinca (from Latin vincire "to bind, fetter") is a genus of six species in the family Apocynaceae; it is native to Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia. Vinca’s common name, shared with its related genus Catharanthus, is Periwinkle.

Gardener Tips
Gardeners often opt to use Vinca in flower boxes, urns and hanging baskets because of their elegant, dangling stems. In a planter, consider pairing Vinca with spring bulbs, then summer annuals, followed by evergreen sprigs and berries for year-round curbside appeal.

Vinca is a lovely complement to creeping phlox and lavender in a rock garden.

Vinca loves to spread, but not typically upward. If planting Vinca on a slope, be sure to start at the highest point and then place plants evenly spaced down the slope. This will ensure even, full coverage.

While all parts of the vinca plant are slightly toxic, that small amount consumed by a pet is unlikely to cause signs (loss of coordination, seizures, diarrhea, vomiting and depression). It would be best to watch your dog or cat closely over the next 24 hours, and if you see any signs of vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or tremors, he/she needs to be seen right away by a veterinarian.

See all Vinca.

Specifications