Vinca (White) Plant

Vinca  also called Speedwell, is a carefree and easy-to-grow perennial with long spikes of small petals in purple, blue, pink, or white. This attractive plant grows in clusters from 1 to 3 feet tall, and blooms from spring to autumn.

There is also a bushy ground cover variety (Prostrate speedwell) which features dense clusters of flowers and grows to about 10 inches tall.

Vinca Planting & Care

·         Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.

·         Plant in the spring. (Veronica can be sowed by seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn but most people start this perennial as a transplant from the nursery.)

·         Loosen the soil and mix in compost. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant’s container.

·         When placing the plant in the hole, ensure the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.

·         Water thoroughly.

CARE

·         Water in the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week.

·         Stake tall varieties.

·         Keep covered with a thin layer of compost, followed by a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture.

·         Deadhead to extend bloom time.

·         After the first killing frost, cut back stems to an inch or two above the soil line.

·         Divide perennials in autumn or spring every few years.

PESTS/DISEASES

·          Scale insects, downy mildew, powdery mildew, rust, leaf smut, and root rot occur.