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Key characteristics

Family: Apocynaceae
Height: 4 to 6 inches
Width: 2 to 3 feet
Flower color: Lavender-blue
Foliage color: Glossy dark green
Bloom time: Spring, with sporadic blooms in summer and fall
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; may require occasional trimming to control spread
Growing zone: Zones 4 to 9
Wildlife: None significant; primarily used as a ground cover

Groundcovers

Vinca minor 'Bowles'

Bowles Periwinkle

Vinca minor 'Bowles' is a robust evergreen groundcover known for its profusion of periwinkle-blue flowers that bloom from spring into early summer, often continuing sporadically throughout the growing season. The star-shaped blooms sit above glossy, oval-shaped leaves, creating a lush, colorful carpet that is both ornamental and functional.

This cultivar, widely used in gardens for its adaptability, originates from selections of the European native Vinca minor.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Spring, with sporadic blooms in summer and fall

Find this plant

Works well in

Woodland Gardens
Under Trees
Borders
Pollinator Gardens

Companion plants

Ajugas · Leucothoes · Brunneras · Autumn ferns · Tiarellas · Hellebores

Design tip

Use broad sweeps beneath trees and shrubs to create a unified ground layer that ties larger plantings together. Contrast the glossy evergreen foliage with finely textured ferns and upright woodland perennials for a landscape that remains attractive in every season.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)