Vinca minor 'Blue and Gold' (Lesser periwinkle 'Blue and Gold')

Botanical name

Vinca minor 'Blue and Gold'

Other names

Lesser periwinkle 'Blue and Gold', Common periwinkle 'Blue and Gold', Myrtle 'Blue and Gold', Creeping myrtle 'Blue and Gold'

Genus

Vinca Vinca

Variety or Cultivar

'Blue and Gold' _ 'Blue and Gold' is a prostrate, mat-forming to trailing, evergreen perennial or subshrub bearing glossy, ovate, dark green leaves with yellow margins and purple-blue flowers from mid-spring into autumn.

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Mat Forming

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Colour

Flower

Blue, Purple in Spring; Purple, Blue in Summer; Purple, Blue in Autumn

Foliage

Yellow, Variegated, Dark-green in All seasons

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Aphids

Specific diseases

Rust

General care

Pruning

Pruning group 6

Propagation methods

Division, Semi-hardwood cuttings

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Vinca minor 'Blue and Gold' (Lesser periwinkle 'Blue and Gold') will reach a height of 0.2m and a spread of 0.45m after 5-10 years.

Suggested uses

Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Ground Cover, Low Maintenance, Underplanting, Wallside and trellises

Cultivation

Will do well in any soil so long as it is not very dry. Flowers best in sun but will easily tolerate shade. May be invasive in ideal growing conditions.

Soil type

Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive, Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade, Full Shade, Full Sun

Aspect

North, South, East, West

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Vinca minor 'Blue and Gold' (Lesser periwinkle 'Blue and Gold')

Common pest name

Scientific pest name

Spilostethus pandurus

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Seed bug unlikely to pose a significant threat to UK plant health.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Vinca minor 'Blue and Gold' (Lesser periwinkle 'Blue and Gold')

Common pest name

Alfalfa dwarf; Anaheim disease; California vine disease; Dwarf disease of alfalfa; Dwarf disease of lucerne; Leaf scald of oleander; Leaf scald of plum; Leaf scorch; Phony disease of peach; Pierce's disease of grapevine; Variegated chlorosis of citrus

Scientific pest name

Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca and related strains

Type

Bacterium

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

A bacterial disease with a wide host range causing substantial damage to olive production in the south of Italy. The priority is to prevent further spread from that area through robust EU regulation. This subspecies is unlikely to be able to thrive in the UK; but should an outbreak occur there would be a need for eradication action which would result in environmental and social impacts.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Vinca minor 'Blue and Gold' (Lesser periwinkle 'Blue and Gold')

Common pest name

Scientific pest name

Spilostethus hospes

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

1

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Seed bug unlikely to pose a significant threat to UK plant health.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/