Periwinkles (Vinca): The Flower That Almost Grows Itself

Looking for non-stop colour with very little effort?

Periwinkles — also called vinca (or “old maid,” as we grew up calling it) — are one of the easiest, most reliable flowering plants you can grow.

They love heat, shrug off drought, and bloom like they’re paid by the flower.

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🌸 Why Grow Periwinkles?

• Thrive in full sun & hot weather

• Bloom continuously

• Perfect for beds, borders & pots

• Low-maintenance and beginner-friendly

• Available in white, pink, red, lavender, magenta & bicolours

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☀️ Sun & Soil

• Full sun = best flowering

• Well-drained soil is essential

• Avoid soggy ground (they hate wet feet)

  

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💧 Watering

• Water regularly when young

• Once established, water sparingly

• Overwatering causes more problems than underwatering

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🌱 Feeding

• Light, balanced fertilizer every 4–6 weeks

• Too much fertilizer, especially Nitrogen = leaves, not flowers

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✂️ Propagation

From seed: Easy in warm conditions
From cuttings: Snip, strip lower leaves, plant — roots form quickly

Seed pods along the mature stem             Seed pods and tiny black periwinkle seeds 

Recently thinned out Periwinkle seedlings in a seedling tray

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🐛 Pests & Problems

• Aphids on new growth

• Spider mites in very dry weather

• Root rot from overwatering

Good drainage prevents most issues.

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🌼 Simple Care Tip

Trim leggy plants occasionally for bushier growth — no deadheading required.

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🌿 Final Thoughts

If you want colour without commitment, periwinkles are hard to beat.
They’re tough, cheerful, and bloom through heat that makes other plants give up.

Happy garden dance! 💃🌸

The Grey-Haired Gardener

👉 Want more easy, heat-loving plants for Caribbean gardens?
Visit The Grey-Haired Gardener for simple tips, real-life growing advice, and plants that actually cooperate.