Vinca minor Argenteovariegata

Vinca minor 'Argentovariegata' is a pretty little periwinkle with a particularly prostrate creeping habit, developing long stems covered with small evergreen and leathery dark green leaves, variegated with cream-yellow and marginated with white-silver. It blooms abundantly in spring, with small emblematic soft blue-mauve star-shaped flowers. Over time, it forms wide mats of refined elegance, creeping between the roots of trees, even in poor soils, thriving happily in all exposures.

The small-flowered periwinkle is a creeping perennial with woody stems from the Apocynaceae family, native to central and southern Europe.  'Argentovariegata' stands out for its curiously prostrate habit and silver-variegated foliage. This plant grows from a woody base, producing creeping stems, forming a dense spreading clump of 10 cm (4in) in height and 60 cm (24in) or more in width. Upon contact with the ground, the stems produce vigorous roots that allow the plant to continue its lateral growth. The stems bear small opposite ovate leaves, sometimes with irregular edges, with two shades of green in the centre, irregularly marginated and variegated with cream and bright white. This variety blooms in April-May, producing characteristic terminal solitary flowers, with 5 square-shaped, asymmetrical petals, in a violet-blue colour.

Periwinkles are useful groundcovers, sometimes invasive. They will spread even in shaded areas, although it may be slightly less floriferous. It eventually forms thick intertwined mats, effectively covering the ground under trees or bushes, in rockeries or along pathways. It easily naturalises, in the company of Acanthus mollis, Geranium nodosum, Geranium Czakor, Dichondra repens or Ruine de Rome (Cymbalaria muralis), in a slightly wild understory. The ivy 'Gloire de Marengo', with its fabulous cream-variegated grey-green leaves, will form a beautiful association with Vinca minor 'Anna', in regions where winter is not too harsh. The compact habit of this variety is also suitable for filling pots.

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